DIRTY WORD

i once found a word
dirty and coarse
vulgar and vulnerable
taken by force

silenced and strangled
gasping for breath
groping in darkness
and choking to death

labeled profane
abhorrent and rotten
ravaged and tortured
forsaken forgotten

this poor word was naught
but a symbol or tool
to banish a blade
is the act of a fool

from squalor to splendor
this sword of the spirit
spoken or written
i never shall fear it

i cherish each word
tho i need not agree
i’ll defend and protect
the word’s right to be free