terse words

written words are shadows of thought

etched upon the page in ash

their meanings vary

self-serving to insightful 

they are ghosts until read

spoken words are echoes of thought

caste upon the atmosphere

their meanings vary

lies to truth

they are ghosts until heard

shouted words are bullets of thought

shot into the mind

their meanings vary

encouragement to destruction

they are ghosts until fired 

whispered words are vestiges of thought

shimmering on the surface

their meanings vary

seduction to malice

they are ghosts until shared

remembered words are dreams of thought

lost in the mind

their meanings vary

delight to horror

they are ghosts until recalled

forgotten words are essences of thought

distilled its most basic

their meanings vary

tongue tips to nagging

they are ghosts until failed

guilty words are crimes of thought

twisted into innocence

their meanings vary

shame to pride

they are ghosts until arisen

whimpered words are sorrows of thought

clad in the moments of weakness

their meanings vary

remorse to helpless

they are ghosts until sounded

terse words are the ends of thought

best left unspoken

their meanings vary

unwritten and unthought

they are ghosts until understood

11/29/16

jeg.