Terrorist

Words don’t become meaningless.
Words become worn out channels,
Poor conductors of meaning,

Usually from having
Been overused in conflicts
Of meaning, power struggles

That, in side conflicts, attempt
To aim words at enemies,
Rivals, even oppressors.

The words, as they say, become
Contested sites of power.
A word is a black river

Warring forces want to seize
And hold, a strategic line,
A railway, a road, a bridge,

A muddy field that’s been churned
Beyond all recognition.
Words never possess meaning.

Wars of meaning trample them,
Funnel armies into them,
Until meanings flatten them.