So many words want to be said,
Calm down, please tarry your flow.
They burst out laughing.
Slow down please.
They taunt me even more.
My pen grumbles; it cannot keep up.

There is one word not in their midst.
The shy one, it is hiding.
It is one word that holds so much,
So much mystery folded in its cloak.
I shine a torch but it hides deeper.
It will come out when it is ready.

Suddenly, my companions slow down,
And glance outside with worry.
Then they shrug and start running around unabated.
They rearrange themselves and spell out
“Life is so short. You take yourself too seriously.”
As I bow to their playful wisdom, my friends scatter around,
And I clumsily try to shepherd them onto the page.