imprecision's price

curious how often just quite what is said
is so different from just what is heard
a casual aside or an innocent jest
reverbs a discouraging word
even assertions calculated, precise
can become thus obscured and deferred
add intonation, prologue, context
and 'meaning' is resurrected absurd
perhaps it comes down to a matter of trust
of respect, an assumption concurred
built up over years, but once it's destroyed
'twill remain there forever interred
a tragedy to those so dependent upon text
what is left is but life unaverred
until it too is enveloped in the pages of time
'til it's though it had never occurred

stephenhsmith 1May2009