As we gather here today to mourn the passing of words, may this also be a celebration of the joy words have brought to souls over the ages.

Countless poets, authors and song writers have employed words to reach humans' minds, souls and spirits. And the beneficiaries of those words have savored them, rolling them over their taste buds as they envisioned dreams they never dared to dream before encountering these delectable words.

Millions have slipped words of comfort in their Bibles - words inscribed by fountain pens on sheets of linen, or on greeting cards written with exquisite fonts and expressions too beautiful to describe, at least not without words.

Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren have marveled at the luxurious penmanship of their ancestors as they read their family histories replete with anecdotal memories. Lovers down through history have treasured letters and notes of affection and returned to them when their hearts were breaking.

When did the demise of words begin? Perhaps it was with the blasphemous philosophy that a picture was worth a thousand words. Why utilize words which required spelling when pictures could be understood even by the illiterate? We began to notice traffic signs with indiscernible graphics instead of words.

Later, with the blessing of the internet, we began to notice a decline in the sending and receiving of paper greeting cards with personal notes jotted in them. Why not just send an eCard? No stamps required; no trip to the post office necessary; no envelopes to lick; and, most of all, far less time and effort required. And if the receiver never received them, oh well. We certainly did our part!

But I think we would all agree that the biggest tragedy of all came with instant messaging and texting. Simple three-lettered words were replaced by one letter! Sacrilege! "I'll See you later" became cul. "I'll be right back" became brb. "Parent looking over my shoulder" became pos. And "I'm rolling on the floor in laughter" became rofl.

Diseases were not immune to the languid minds in our society. Impossible to ignore if one watches television for more than fifteen minutes are ads for RLS, PAD, PMS, PMDD, ADD, ADHD, BPD, and the hits keep coming.

Is it possible we could end up like the cave people before us who relied on grunting and other repugnant bodily functions to communicate?

All of us attending this funeral are mourners of words lost to us as language de-evolved. We must take a stand here today, midst these bouquets of words: we will find a way to bring back real words - to make them desirable to the masses!

Stand and proudly pronounce: LLW! WLF! BBW!

(c) 2007 April Lorier

About the Author

April Lorier is an award-winning poet and inspirational author and speaker. A survivor of both child abuse and adult domestic abuse, April wants to inspire women! Her bold autobiography, GOD'S BATTERED CHILD, was written for that purpose. Her book is available at major retailers and at her gods-girl.com website.