I don’t envy the judge.

anyway, here’s my entry:

It doesn’t matter how much you

polish

spit shine

sand and varnish, varnish and sand

throw them in a tumbler until they’re more beautiful than you ever could have thought at the beginning;

They’re still just words.

And that no matter how much you

sugar coat them

embellish them

revise them;

the simplest sentiment is often the best.

That said,

I’m sorry you’re gone.

and

I miss you.