Look for a new post of Sunday Brunch every month on the first Sunday. This column features Tripod Poems, poetic micro essays inspired by three randomly chosen words. These words become the title of the piece, are contained within the piece and are developed into observations on life in the Southwest and beyond.
Transcend – Imbue – Beatific
In honor of the 10th Biennial Southwest Word Fiesta, October 23-29, 2023
Language is a sixth sense.
Our senses are gifts,
allowing us to interpret
the physical world;
to make our way through
the maze of experience
by using sight, smell, hearing,
taste and tactile sensation.
Language lets us make sense
of our physical dimensions,
but also transcends form.
It allows us to be intimately
involved with the immensely
beatific nature of reality.
Language provides signposts
for emotional navigation.
A compass of words,
accurately gauged, provides
clear direction for the expression
of hard to define feelings.
Without language, the pure
visceral experience of living
still exists, but there is no way
to precisely convey the sensations.
Birds have songs, as do frogs,
and whales and other creatures.
Even trees send messages between
their root systems and through air
by their chemical excretions.
All life forms use codes of meaning
but only we use words, and so many!
Tens of thousands for each language,
and there are 7,139 officially known
languages on our small blue planet.
Why then are we choosing
to lose this rich sixth sense
by using only consonants,
cryptic codes and emojis
easily texted with two thumbs?
Our amazing opposable thumbs
are designed for better things,
like holding and sharing
in the real world,
not just in cyberspace.
Are we not aware
that we will numb
one of our most
powerful senses
when we choose to lose
rich communication?
Why sacrifice such unique
potential for elation?
Words are vessels of magic
that imbue meaning.
They are a means to relate
to the wonders of the cosmos.
Photo Credit: “Pink Dahlia,” Eve West Bessier, 2012
