On Words by Pip van Winden

The young poet stepped forward and asked, with a curious twinkle in his eyes, 'What about words, Prophet?’ I hesitated for a moment. Doubting whether to tell him my full truth or to tell him only the part that complies with his young heart’s content.

‘Words are one of our greatest means,' I answered, stressing the words ‘one of’. For words are nothing without intention, and they are nothing without action. Often, words alone are not sufficient to shake those with roots dug deep into the earth. Often, words can be perceived as empty, like blossoms without their sweet scent.

But even words said with the greatest, most honest intent and combined with action so selfless that it surprises the gods by the unexpected goodness of their creation may fail to be perceived in the way intended. For perception is clouded by one’s convictions already rooted in their minds.

Yet this does not make words less worthy.

The one that understands this will master much more than language alone. And for the ones that have not gained mastery of this; let this not tether you to the ground, but use your wings to fly and see words as a form of art. In the same way that love and life can be perceived as such.