Words That Come Between Us

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We speak the same words but we mean different things,

Conversations a-tangling, pulling each one’s strings.

The damage runs deep because we’ve both assumed,

Our meanings reside in the very same room.

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When “fair” fills the room, who knows what it means,

Six frameworks at war behind a dark screen.

A deal we both gain? Or a law we must keep?

Or equal shares cut? Or to each by their need?

​

We speak the same words but we mean different things,

Conversations a-tangling, pulling each one’s strings.

The damage runs deep because we’ve both assumed,

Our meanings reside in the very same room.
 

Strip “fair” of its judgment before it can guide,

You can't build a framework on a word used to hide.

Agree on the meaning, then examine the case,

Or win-win has no hope of ever finding its place.

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“Love,” “freedom,” and “respect,” do you know what you say,

Speaking these murky words, thinking they won’t betray?

Take “reasonable,” “force,” and “responsible,” too,

Sounding like clear ideas, yet likely misconstrued.

​

We speak the same words but we mean different things,

Conversations a-tangling, pulling each one’s strings.

The damage runs deep because we’ve both assumed,

Our meanings reside in the very same room.

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The word may be fuzzy before even it’s spoken,

Already confused before your mouth has awokened.

So ground what you mean, and then speak it with care,

Or the conversation you want won’t likely be there.
 

We speak the same words but we mean different things,

Conversations a-tangling, pulling each one’s strings.

The damage runs deep because we’ve both assumed,

Our meanings reside in the very same room.

​

We speak the same words but we mean different things,

Conversations a-tangling, pulling each one’s strings.

The damage runs deep because we’ve both assumed,

Our meanings reside in the very same room.