Transforming Poetry

Words

Many men have said,
The pen is mightier than the sword,
But is it really the pen?
Or the words it can spill forth?

Strange and magical symbols,
Like incantations over a cauldron,
Cooking up so many feelings,
Stirring up different emotions.

Words can make us feel happy,
We can laugh and smile as we read,
They can instil hope and joy,
Planting it deep like a seed.

They can make us fall in love
With people who do not exist,
Get to know them as you do a friend,
Your mind and soul insist.

So you delve deep into the maze,
Of words written down by another,
Drawn to an assortment of letters,
Which have become an imaginary lover.

Now what else can words do?
Often they make people cry,
Drag them down into depths of despair,
Leaving them questioning why.

Perhaps the letters arranged,
Into a sentence of death,
Plucking the strings of hearts,
As a hero draws their last breath.

Or something as simple as heartache,
Spelled out in ink on paper,
Can make someone sad inside,
Just thinking of another's failure.

Words certainly contain some magic,
In the way that they draw people in,
Whether written or spoken out loud,
Popping bubbles as if with a pin.

They can take you to another world,
Transported by alphabetic genius,
Casting spell or perhaps simply spelling,
In a way that calls out "join us.".

They make you hear sound in silence,
See bright light when all is black,
To touch things that never existed,
Even smell the stench of attack.

They make you feel love when you're broken,
And cry when you're empty of tears,
Laugh like a child being tickled,
Or feel wise beyond your own years.

Ever seen someone reading a book,
With a stupid big grin on their face?
Or a frown of concentrated horror,
As they're whisked away to a new place?

Its because words have magic in them,
Charming charms and well spelled spells,
To fly you away from reality,
Without even knowing you fell.

Words can do many great things,
Save lives or topple kingdoms,
Can do all they are commanded,
Either stupid or filled with wisdom.

But words are made up of letters,
And letters are just lots of lines,
So when you draw yours make them count,
The limit is only your mind.