Sunday, August 10, 2014

Words

I am, quite simply, a logophile.  Now before you go to Google to find out what that is, let me tell you. It is Greek for "lover of words".  That I am.  I fervently adore words.  Those that make up books, lyrics, quotes, phrases and verses. When they are spoken so eloquently, I am awestruck.   It never ceases to amaze me how 26 simple letter can be assimilated into so much joy, sorrow, comfort, and humor.  I have a dictionary and a thesaurus.  I once read a book about a man who read the English Oxford Dictionary.  Yes, I am a great big nerd. 

The thing about words is they are easy to say. Hard to take back.  Easy to believe.  I can get swept away in words.  Put them together in the right order and they sound like promises. Whispered late at night in the cover of darkness between two people, they sound like forever.  Standing next to someone in a crowded bar, he leans in so close that you swear your bodies are touching, but only the tip of his mouth touches your ear, so you can only feel hot breath that comes with those words.  Those should be the truest words uttered, instead they are temporary.  Texts, Facebook posts that make your heart leap from your chest.  Words  are exquisite but in the wrong hands they become malignant.

I don't take much stock in what some people say anymore. I try to look beyond what their mouths are saying and into their eyes and hearts.   It's going to take me seeing the truth in someones soul to believe them.

 There is a quote from The Beautiful and the Damned. I would loved to have met F. Scott Fitzgerald.  That man could take those 26 letters and spin them into magic.  He wrote: "I don't want just words. If that's all you have for me you'd better go." 

Truer words were never spoken.  I don't need to hear how beautiful, amazing, wonderful or special I am. Don't just tell me that you want to be with me. Show me and make me believe because words are cheap my friend.