The Written Word

I learned the power of
the written word
when just a small child.
I learned to fulfill my
hunger
to satisfy my needs
to feel content.
Later-- I learned that teachers possessed
the power
to carve red A’s or F’s.
The words that I loved---
hungered for
burned for
become traitors and exposed me.
I learned that those first failures
would pierce my soul.
Finally, I learned that I possessed the power
to ask permission
forgiveness
to explain or report.
I possess the power to make others
laugh and cry.
Instinctively, I learned that my writing
possessed the power
To let me out of prison for good behavior.
S. L. Fellinger