It's not an iron rule that the pen is mightier than the sword. Not at all.

Yesterday the father of one of my dearest friends passed away. I did n't know what to say when I heard and hours later, I still don't know what to say. Words have no power at times like this; flaccid, thin, feeble, all of them.

There's nothing in the vocabulary that can help. All the condolences are trite, they're too matter of fact, and they reek of routine. I'm left gasping, a fish beached.

Where are the words when I need them? I know the sentiment I want to say, but I can't dress it, the words are n't there.

V, my love, my deepest, dearest love is with you tonight.