Vocabulary
I swear a lot, y’all.
I swear around most everyone. I swear less around some and more around others. It just depends on the ears that hear me.
I’m not sure why that is. I’m kinda tough on the outside, but soft in the middle.
I’ve heard all along my timeline that using swear words shows a lack of vocabulary.
But does this truly apply to me?
I know some big, meaningful words. I know some small, meaningless ones, too.
Obsequious, for example. I love using this big word to describe some of my, ahem…co-workers.
Asshat, too. A small but powerful word used to describe any of my pal Eh-net’s adversaries.
But what about the words that make me cringe? Make me shiver?
There are a few.
The “N” word is most euphemistically dominant in my head now. I hear that when listening to uncensored hip-hop music. I hear it on the job from sources that I’ll leave nameless. I’m not sure why anyone would feel a comfort level using this word. Black or white. I can’t tolerate it. It’s a word that if used in my growing-up life, woulda got me slapped. Funny, isn’t it, how my parents had no tolerance for racism, yet could make their own kids feel like worthless pieces of crap.
No matter, that’s another story. I took the good and left the rest. As we all do, I imagine.
I can hear some words that slam folks and not bat an eye. Okay. But there are some that I cannot deal with.
I ponder this. Words are words, right?
No. Words are daggers sometimes. Words are spears and barbs and hate-filled lobs sometimes.
And I can’t stand this.
Don’t tell me that your words are simply words and they mean nothing.
Fuck that.
Words are words that mean everything.
So I must use caution as I fling them around with seeming impunity.
Words hate. Words hurt.
But words are glorious and splendid, too.
I wanna find my words and keep them handy.
My tools. My arsenal.
I’m an army of one.
I swear.