i asked him
why
why speak with such
sharp words
and exact phrases?

why must it matter so much?
in turn, he quoted twain
cupping my cheeks and saying
"the difference between the right word
and almost the right word
is the difference between lightning
and a lightning bug"
he held his tongue in search for
the perfect word.

and i told him,
love
dear
darling
speak in the vernacular
for we all share the same blood.