When pointless wars are fought
And individuals’ voices are lost
Among shells and magazines and bombs and fire
Only the written word remains

When a freedom is questioned
And ideas are imprisoned
Beat down by the government, regulators, and society
Only the written word remains

When a people is silenced by oppression
Cheated out of their vocal confession
And thoroughly erased by the media
Only the written word remains

I write because ink is like cement
And words once written
Become forever engraved
Only the written word remains