What Are Words?

Black waves on a sea of white
parted to reveal one’s thoughts
too afraid to be spoken
bold enough to be written
but written, it is louder
than if it had been spoken

Scribbles scribbled in a carefree hand
ink drying and fear dying
with every drop
the pages whisper
“don’t hold back”
the pen begs
“write me dry”
and so begins a journey of a thousand words
starting with a single word