Friday, October 4, 2024

poem

 Janus









The meanings of words can change

Over time. Definitions get lost.

New contexts are gleaned. 

The word “naughty” derives from “naught”,

Or nothing, the absence of anything solid.

From there it’s a short leap to a realm

Utterly devoid of moral principles,

Which softened into a minor

Pejorative for disobedient boys.

“Awful” once suggested awe inspiring.

“Nice” people, long ago, were morons.

“Terrorist” used to be a designation 

For someone wielding violence against

Innocents to advance a political agenda—

Airplane hijackers, snipers and suicide bombers.

But after Fallujah, Gitmo and Gaza

It has also come to mean: anyone 

The good guys can kill

Without pause or regret.

We are the good guys

In this degenerate vocabulary.

The “terrorists” are the ones 

Who deserve to die

When our bombs are dropped.

We decide.
Everyone else must suffer. 

It grants absolution for vengeance,

Serves as useful proxy for erasure,

A whispered pardon from a deep

Voice on the other side of a screen,

A complex word with both noun

And predicative connotations

Where trial, sentencing and final justice

Are implied with mere utterance.

As these things go 

The meaning will continue to evolve.  

Pretty soon it will mean

Nothing at all 


10/4/24

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