NO Poem by Toon Tellegen

No was a small word,
an insignificant word.

It listened to the large words:
Yes and We and Always.

It studied the crumbs of their thoughts
that they dropped from their table.

It was not a stupid word.

One day it crept into the kitchen,
climbed onto the sink,
grabbed a knife
and ate it.
(Words can eat things.)

It was still a small word,
but no longer an insignificant word - that never again -

and it returned to the room,
sat under the table
and listened.