68-69 / 72
66
TUSCARORA REVIEW 2016
2016 TUSCARORA REVIEW
67
These Deeds Shall Thy Memorial Be
Jessica Perez
I worship words
I always will
Without words, what do we have?
No language, no stories, no jokes, no love letters
No first words. No last words. No vows.
We look to words as we’ve always looked to the stars:
As sentinels
Guiding lights
Things of the past that still provide us with something so close to tangible
That it often feels like you can reach out and tickle the entire world
Sometimes, though, it’s not the words.
It’s the deeds.
It’s the
act
.
It’s reaching for the check instead of bragging about picking it up.
It’s about being there when you’re needed, even without being called.
It’s the embrace
The understanding look
The stern warning glance
The smile
The sacrifice
The silence, the wordless service
The watchful eye
The heartfelt, Heaven-sent prayers that are so sacred, so close to your heart,
That they will never pass your lips
Those feelings, pure elation and pure despair and everywhere in between
That we’ll never have the ability to explain
Anyone can speak or write.
Any fool can disguise himself behind deceptive language.
Only in practice are you proving your true worth
Only by doing are you giving your words any power
Mind your words, but mind your deeds too.
For they shall be what matters when your mouth is closed and your fingers go still
Yuki Smith,
Abandoned
— Photograph