CarrollBlog 6.22

Meditation on the Word Need

by Linda Rodriguez

The problem with words of emotion

is how easily meaning drains

from their fiddle-sweet sounds

and they become empty instruments.

I can say love

and mean desire to give—

open-handed, open-hearted—

or I am drawn to the light

shining from your soul—

or my life is empty without you—

or I want to run my hands

and mouth down the length of you—

or all of these at once.

Need, now, is a plain word.

I need a nail to hang this picture.

I need mo