It's Always Words

It’s always words with us.

Words that attempt to defuse
the bomb, diffuse the laser
creeping closer to the mark,
disarm the sighted weapon:

What?

It’s…

Words that deflect attention,
chaff in the radar’s eye,
white noise to hide the unspoken,
answers avoiding the question

Why?

It’s like…

Words that flatly deny
what is patently true,
retract what I cannot redact
and bluntly refuse to tell you

Who?

It’s like this…

Words that delay
what has to be said,
would sooner be dead
than finally tell you

When?

It’s like this:
this is what it’s like
and why and who I am
and when it came to be.

And when we’re together,
face to face, beside the fire,
ready to speak and to hear,
I’ll tell you how I feel.