THE WRITTEN WORD

The written word is a powerful thing. It can evoke beauty, kindness, thoughtfulness and bring joy to the reader.  Even the scribbliest scrawly hand of a child writing their first words to Grandma and Grandad can bring tears of joy and remind them they are thought of and loved and for the child, those written words can mark a great achievement as they wend their way through early life.

Words can be long, they can be short, they can be bold, italic or feint. They can be underlined, highlighted or circled and each one can be as important as the next or the one before. Written words can become sentences, paragraphs, chapters and then books which tell of wonder, love, hopes and dreams.

There are story books with words that weave magic for the very young and the young at heart. These story book words may be written but they soon become memorised as the words are repeated night after night after night as the reader brings them to life with whispers, cries, sing songs and bedtime closure.

There are words of treaties, charters and laws. Written words of wisdom, poems and plays to be debated and dissected by the educated. The written word from masters of days gone by are translated through the ages to bring understanding to the new world.

Then there is the written word that once out there cannot be taken back. Hurtful, spiteful, damaging and unnecessary words. There in black and white are the thoughts and ramblings of the writer with a grudge to bear, a chip on a shoulder or just oblivious to the consequences of their words. No tears of joy by the reader here but tears of pain, admonishment and quite often disbelief.  There are written words that can make or break a President, start or stop a war, can give direction or begin destruction. The written word can start or ruin a love affair, they can give notice of acceptance or rejection and they can sign away what just ‘is’.

The written word is however, a strange phenomenon. It can be written with all good intention and heartfelt joy and the wish to share life experiences in the most positive way. The author deserving credit for a job well done on a life well lived and yet, for just one reader, it could stir heart breaking memories of a life similarly lived but with outreaching consequences. The words are familiar but so distant.

From my experience it all comes down to the reader, the interpreter and the strength of the pen.

The written word is very powerful. Take from it what you will.

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