In the beginning was the Word.
We celebrate the gift of words
Words that whisper and shout
Words that encourage and affirm
Words that build new worlds
And break down old ideas
Words of mystery and imagination
Of wisdom, wit and whimsy
The words of Shakespeare and of slam
On the page and on the stage
Of soliloquy and comedy
Word of mouth
Word of the day
Word on the street
The last word.
True to our word.
We celebrate wordsmiths, minor and major, whose gift it is to write the world for us
To create the nourishing broth, the alphabet soup, of words to work their magic
Words that exhort and advocate
That calm and soothe
Words on which to float away
Words for strength on another day.
Words to give each other wings, not wounds
Words of balm and blessing
Of cheer and condolence, small consolation
Words to kindle in the heart
And to tell that mostly marvellous tale
The story of us
With its chapter and verse, its punchlines and mysteries,
Its ambivalence, doubt and desire
The breath of words that makes us pause in wonder, their shimmering susurration
Turning us to tears or laughter or the gentle nod of recognition
The exhalation of acceptance.
In sacred texts and swaggering tomes
In chap books and limited editions
In newspapers and journals and hidden diary entries
Words for another day, a different self, the foreword and the epilogue
Words evanescent in cyber space
On memorials, plaques and honour boards
Words to pin us down and to let us escape
Words that bind us together over time and place
Culture and race.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
The Word.
Ann Rennie is a writer and educator. Her work has been published in The Age, The Australian, and SMH. Her most recent book is Blessed: Meditations on a Life of Small Wonders.