Words are insufficient in their reach
poor tools with which to make attempt
and yet words are all we readily have
to avoid offence of illiterate contempt

Attempts we make with words or art
to explain the dreads, expand on hope
to gauge the depth, assuage the fear
we measure the dirt to apply the soap

More words than we can afford to spare
would necessitate a brief incantation
to a young lovers smile watching shy
to the sound of the mob at birth of nation

Words more easily adapt as weapons
barbed to readily sustain a difference
to highlight flaws and grade our friends
to justify hate and to barb the fence

The examples sown by some brave few
those that wander lonely as a cloud
those that suffer outrageous fortune
those that are far from the madding crowd

And we who aspire to raise ourselves
beyond the mire of composting rhyme
to seek the heights of critical worship
and break the bonds of mundane time

We take our words and shuffle slow
seek despairingly the means to portray
what is in ourselves and immeasurable
strive for rainbows and tell them in grey