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Mindstates
The Word Artist
by Marcella Maggio
The sweltering sun draped above the asphalt road caused every enthusiast to perspire as they strolled along the art festival. Men, women, sisters, uncles, and children moved at a snail’s pace along the street, admiring the works of art at their feet. Splashes of inspiration could be found in the vibrant shades of sidewalk art, through the curves of diverse sculptures, and on the faces of every onlooker. Beauty, passion, and wonderment flowed from the veins of the artists and into the hearts of their admirers. Though countless masterpieces surrounded me, a painting far off in the distance beckoned for my attention. Mesmerized, I approached the piece for a closer viewing. Hues of pomegranate red swirled beneath wisps of yellowpastels over leafy tones of green. In the center 
appeared a shadow of Mother Earth floating above a poem:
We and They
Father and Mother, and Me,
Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
And every one else is They.
And They live over the sea,
While We live over the way,
But, would you believe it? – They look upon We
As only a sort of They! – Rudyard Kipling
After reading the words, I was overcome with profound sadness and personal guilt. I sat with the sensations and allowed them to sink deep into my core. I felt saddened with the realization that several share in this belief and guilty that I was once among the several. Yet, above all else, I contemplated the fact that these simple, everyday utterances had the ability to invoke such intense emotions within me. Though few words were expressed, the author’s compelling message was effortlessly conveyed. His declaration reminded me about the illusion of separateness. As a poet, he is a Communicator, a Storyteller, and a Word Artist—titles that each one of us collectively share.
This awareness was immediately identified, as I observed the interactions of those who attended the event. All around me, I saw, heard, and felt words as they floated from mouths, into ears, and wrapped around hearts, causing emotions to seep out into the veins of every speaker and listener. I watched as children begged for tasty treats, only to resort to tears when their parents said no. I listened to the harmonies between man and woman as they performed a duet on stage. And in a twist of fate, I felt the sting of disappointment when three small words mouthed caused my teenage daughter to receive one week of punishment. Her defense was that she did not “speak” the words therefore she did not mean them. “If words are thoughts, spoken or not, they all are meant,” I explained. Though I attempted to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, my daughter’s reaction to my justification only created further distance between us. Upset with the consequences of her actions, she chose to remain silent for the duration of the day. However, not for one moment did she cease to communicate. She flipped open her phone and texted her frustration to numerous friends. There was no need for the others to be present, as technology made it possible for her to transport the sensations within her, across the miles that separated them.
The art of communication, whether spoken, written or merely thought has been our most powerful tool throughout life. As human beings, the Divine has gifted each one of us with the potential to create our way of life through our expression of words. Contrast to the countless life forms and species that inhabit this planet, only we have this capability. As infants, we were encouraged to say “Mama” or “Papa” to form a bond between parent and child. By way of constant repetition, we eventually graduated to full sentences and were able to ask for items in order to have our needs met. The moment we understood the meaning behind the words in our vocabulary, we continued to identify with and express them. Additionally, through nurturing, schooling, and research, we discovered new terms and enhanced our repertoire. However, the ability to verbally communicate is not necessary due to sign language, body language, and symbolic and written forms of exchange.
Words. We can’t escape them. Not even within our own minds. Instead, our mind is likely to be all over the place, forming ideas and opinions, framing questions, passing judgments, drawing conclusions, and jumping from one thought to another. 
Whether read aloud from a book or spoken behind closed doors in secret, this universal art form shares the messages of our souls. Through sheer expression, we have the ability to communicate our feelings, our fantasies, our hopes, our dreams, and our truths. Consequently, when we share our words, we enable those around us the opportunity to connect to our experiences, and thus grow from our lessons learned. As Word Artists, we can unify the relationships within our families, our communities, and our countries, regardless of individual upbringing and background.
Beyond the imaginary lines of division and despite our cultural and familial differences, numerous forms of communication and self-expression exist across the globe. From infancy into adulthood, our families and caretakers have acted as distinct cultures. Each culture exhibits its own way of communicating, arguing, sharing, and showing affection. Most cultures remain intact by passing along their nuances, habits, and sayings for hundreds of years, with only slight variations occurring within each generation. However, when our languages are different and translation has to be used in order to communicate, the potential for misunderstandings escalates. By becoming more aware of cultural differences, as well as exploring the similarities, we can communicate with others more effectively. There are those throughout the world who have hopes of learning something new, developing friendships, and understanding different points of view. Yet, many fear being judged, patronized, or hurting others unintentionally through miscommunication. Instead, these magnificent Word Artists chose to build walls around their souls and allow little out. In doing so, essential knowledge and wisdom are lost, preventing spiritual growth in the ones who refuse to share and in the ones unwilling to listen.
As I reflect on my time spent at the art festival, the colorful drawings, melodic lyrics, and finger-staining newspaper hats transform themselves into sheer expressions of the artists’ souls within my mind. I see, hear, and feel them connect with me once again and realize that communication encompasses every moment of our existence. Therefore, with patience and understanding, we can reconnect to those near and far, across the street, and across the ocean. In spite of our surface differences and divisions, when we allow our deeply rooted Word Artist to emerge, we permit ourselves the opportunity to become whole and united. Through the art of expression, “They and We” become an illusion and the words that connect us become our reality.
Marcella Maggio is a freelance writer, poet and lyricist living in scenic Carlsbad, California. She is currently in the midst of writing her first book, The Teacher. Every Wednesday, this modern-day hippie shares another one of life’s adventures in her blog, On The Road Again. Learn more at happyhippieadventures.com or contact her at info@happyhippieadventures.com.