As You Would Sticks
I pick up words
as you would sticks
And build them up
As though they're bricks
In this way,
I built a home
And carried on
To build my Rome
I gathered all
the words I could
And placed them where
The world once stood
Piece by piece,
I made it new
Then one day
I showed you
My castles burned
as did the sky
And word by word
My kingdom died
Even now,
I hum along
And sweep the streets
I grew up on
Sometimes there
Among the ash
I find a word
Tossed out like trash
I dust it off
And set it straight
And though it might be
Somewhat late
I build it up:
An altar to
All the words
And friends I knew