The Broken Tool

You can never say a single thing
About truth, love
Beauty
Or being

Without leaving your —
Your unique fingerprints
On that thing
That isn’t a thing at all

And clearly
To say even that
Is a fingerprint

To say that it is
A thing
Factual, objective or actual
Is another fingerprint

Speaking
Is destined to fail
From its first utterance
If it’s meant to articulate
Point at or show

The metaphysical ground
Essence, nature
Truth or reality
Of existence

And speaking —
Despite its utter inadequacy
Is the only mechanism
That exists

To point to
Show or articulate
What exists

Beyond its reach
Uncontaminated
By fingerprints

Knowing this —
Silence is no greater teaching
Has no greater claim —
To whatever it's pointing at
Showing or representing

Than speech