The Written Word

I learned the power  of

the written word

                when just a small child.

I learned to fulfill my

                hunger

                to satisfy my needs

                to feel content.

Later-- I learned that teachers possessed

                the power

                to carve red A’s or F’s.

The words that I loved---

                hungered for

                burned for

                become traitors and exposed me.

I learned that those first failures

                would pierce my soul.

Finally, I learned that I possessed the power

                to ask permission

                forgiveness

                to explain or report.

I possess the power to make others

                laugh and cry.

Instinctively, I learned that my writing

                possessed the power

                To let me out of prison for good behavior.

S. L.  Fellinger