Duh

There can’t be too many words.
Human brains couldn’t handle it.
But that’s not the only reason.

Words need to be common,
Need to be held
In common, need to be shared.

It’s in the very nature of words
And of phrases and syntax as well.
If they’re not collective,

They don’t work. They’re not words,
Really, your inventions and high-flown
Rare and archaic vocabularies—

As material patterns they’re real
As anything, but as language
They hover at the edge of existence.

The sturdy words are fewer,
Locked in common phrases,
What everyone says and can say

Is what is, is what is language.
You would like to live with the rare words,
But you’re close to death out there.