Language Separates Us, or "♡" (a poem)

Wednesday August 10, 2011

They say scent is tightly linked to memory
and they say it with words
is it any wonder

On a road home the manure smell is heavy
with that of freshly cut grass
from cows so wealthy

The process of language in and language out
does not digest reality
while the nose is subconscious

I looked her in the eye, her right to my left
and felt certain she knew
what I saw

Those eyes were etched and buried deep
with inexpressible conviction
solidarity and solitude

As every song I hear I sing
begets a meaning just for me
contradictory and comforting

Language separates us from other animals, they say
like skyscrapers and spiders and Twitter and orangutans
language holds us apart

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