I like words. I like the way one word can stick in your head. I like the way they twine together to turn a phrase, and the way they bunch up when they're excited to be on a page together. I like words that are hard like alleged and suspect. I like words that are round like embargo and artisan. I like words that twist and turn like ambiguity and archepelago. I like words that are fat in the middle like virtuoso and corporeal, and words that are skinny like supoena and chatter.

I like long words and short words. I like to stack them up and turn some into tales and others to tomes. I like words in pencil and pen and newspaper ink, and Helvetica and Times New Roman.

I like words because I am poor, and words are free. They can never be taken back, and when you have nothing, you can still have the last word.

I like words. Would you like to have a few with me?