T h e w o r d b e c a m e s t r e t c h e d
a n d c r e p t a m o n g u s

It is the tense vocation of language
to contain and constrain meaning.

Some words are better than others —
‘alas’ sounds nothing like keening.

Some words deepen another —
to be troubled is to be found bereaving.

It is the tense vocation of language
to contain and constrain meaning.

by Padraig O Tuama