demand something of words

A couple of months ago, I performed at a benefit for the National Lawyers Guild in San Francisco. Another poet there, Haleh Hatami, read a piece she'd translated from Farsi by Iranian poet, Yaddlah Royai. One line from it has stayed with me:

"In your downfall, demand something of words.”

It echoes in my head, as I assess the quality of what I write. I've been asking myself, what do I demand of words? What I've found is that what I demand of words is what I demand of relationships:

Clarity of intention.
Courage of heart.
Celebration of connection.
Commitment to communication.

All the c-words – because c-words rock. Especially the one you’re thinking of – the most beautiful, powerful, carnal, cerebral and holy of them all.