The Silent Word

There is a word my mouth won’t say. My heart can’t take the sound of it.

Before, I had no problem forming the word and hearing its escape.

Before, I had no intimate knowledge, no woeful experience with its parts.

Now, I know the wrenching, “on this side” permanence of the dreadful word.

Now, I know the finality – the ending that is yet to feel like the beginning.

Avoid and replace, substitute and sigh…anything but say the word.

I suspect I’m not alone.

I suspect you have a word or two your mouth will not say.

There are plenty to go around.

Divorce

Abortion

Died

Affair

Have I missed one?

The word is not the thing. The context is.

The painful context with its pieces. Its faces and phrases. Its tangible, ordinary objects, too.

Easily, with innocence the word is voiced by others. Real casual like.

And my ears twitch. And my heartbeat quickens.

Someday I’ll say the word. But not now.

Someday without an inward flinch the word will roll.

And I’ll take notice without blinking. And no one else will note its return.

Just a seven letter word.

Words go deep.

Words matter.

Words are matter. Occupying space and time.

Even words left unsaid.

(photo-Robert Broughton)

Do you have a word too painful to say?

Sharon O

Words that break the heart are always painful, we use caution when we speak, Words can also heal so we use discernment when we giving them away. Life is always about choice.
http://letajoykeepyou.blogspot.com/ leslie

Well written meditation on the depths of pain that can be found beneath the simple words used to describe an experience. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear, and a willingness to weep with those who weep…
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks, Leslie, for coming by. I know have experienced the depths of painful words, too.
http://www.peaceforthejourney.com/ elaine @ peace for the journey

I’ll think on this; you’re right–context is everything. I can tell you what one of my least favorite word(s) is: “cancer-free”. I write honestly about it in my book, but the fact that I’m writing about it probably means that it’s not as painful as some words are. Maybe in the writing, some of pain is diffused. Maybe.
- Anonymous
  
  Elaine, thank you for adding to this. Maybe you are right about the diffusion of pain in the writing. I’m not ready to even type the word, as you can see.

Melanie Dorsey