A picture is worth a thousand words, they said.

So I looked at a picture of a tree,

But only words came to mind as I studied it.

And then I thought to myself,

If there was no language, if there were no words,

What would life be?

I would recognize that this is a tree, of course,

But I would not call it a tree.

I would not call it anything.

It would simply be,

As I would simply be,

If there was not a name for me to call myself.

Language is a blessing and a burden

Misinterpreted and abused as it can be

Sometimes breaking barriers, sometimes building them.

But no war was ever started, no freedom ever gained

Through the use of a picture, for God’s sake.

And that is why I say a word is worth more, much more,

Than a thousand pictures could ever be.