Abiding Love

They were fascinating

They were intriguing

In every shape and size

They were tantalizing.

With wide-eyed wonder

I closely watched them

Acquiring new meaning

At every turn.

I loved to roll my

Tongue around them

Savour their flavour

As some of them tied my tongue in knots.

Listening to their cadence

Inflection and pitch

Wrapping my head

Around their myriad meanings.

What began as an interest

Turned into an infatuation

A crush to beat all crushes

And now is an abiding love.

As I grow older

The bond grows stronger

And I can’t bear to

See them being misused.

My affair with words

Is a lifelong one

I don’t mind sharing them with you

But please give them

The respect that they deserve

And don’t bandy them around

Without realising their worth.