afraid
i might
l o s e   my  words
slip          
and
retreat
    fall
and
           surrender

i'm afraid
i might
l o s e  my  words
                          drop them
           in the water or
f l i n g   them too
far into space  

i'm afraid
i might
l o s e  my  words and
become
            |silent|
       agreeable                
     *diminished.