Poem: "The First Science"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem was inspired by a prompt from wyld_dandelyon:
The energy inherent in words, that they can shape feelings and thoughts and actions, that they can shape reality.

The First Science

Words were the first science.

Before physics shaped flint more deliberately
Than the dropping of a rock;
Before thermodynamics spun a thread of smoke
From the juncture of two dry sticks;
Before astronomy walked across the night
To describe the slow dance of the stars;
Linguistics grew around our tongues,
Pushing out the milk-teeth of animal noises.

Words gave form to feelings.
Shared thoughts shaped shared actions.
With words, we could reshape reality itself.

Hold them in your mouth:
Sharp as flint, hot as fire, bright as stars.
Breathe them out and become human.