Words!

Words! They baffle me often

With the varied hues and shades,

Twists and tones, forms and traits

Each of them is capable of assuming.

Some are plain and often straight

Some are short and also sweet

Some are long and somewhat perplexing

Some are vague with heavy undertones

Some are sharp while some are seductive

All are but vehicles of our own thoughts.

When they leave you in a form you know

You have no clue how they transform

By that time they reach their listeners

And what impacts they tend to inflict.

It all depends on many aspects,

The people, the mood and also the context,

Not to mention the earlier interactions,

With relationships and intentions also in the picture.

They can be sweet and coaxing for one

For another, they may be a bit bitter in tone

They can turn malicious to a third

And a little ambiguous to yet another dude.

They can soothe you when in pain

But they can also hurt you causing pain

They can boost your confidence and take away too,

They help you in being determined, but sometimes apprehensive.

They can wound your heart to bleed

Though it could sometimes be unintended, indeed.

Words spoken and unspoken too

Can be a reason for myriad emotions.

Powerful they are, beyond our imagination

Mightier than swords and all ammunition

They can make or break relationships,

They can ruin families and also reunite,

They can be cause of battles and wars,

Bringing down even mighty empires.

They can also be vehicles of peace

Across the lands and their borderlines.

I adore the beauty of the written word

I do long to gain mastery on the art

Converting words naive to expressions beautiful

Conveying thoughts powerful and feelings intense,

Emotions subtle, desires innate,

Views vivid and opinions original.

But, I also tend to be scared of their spoken form

For, they can easily turn deceptive at times,

Making you defend every word you utter,

Leading to debates like never ending spirals,

Throttling you deep into their treacherous whirls,

Choking you tight in your escaping struggles,

Leaving you speechless when they hurl you out at the end

Draining you off your energy and self-assurance.

I know I have no escape from them ever

But can only be careful when I deal with them every time.

I'm sure that you can easily relate

As each of you would have experiences to narrate

Even these words that I have jotted down here,

When they reach you at your end there,

The thoughts and memories and emotions they evoke

Are so widely different and I cannot revoke.