Once a word is spoken,
it is no longer ours.

There is some disagreement about this - 

How many words do we lose every day?
How many syllables?

Some languages have lost quite a few
vowels and consonants - 
some languages have lost
many speakers along the way.

Mr. Ludwig rarely speaks.
He gives us signs, sometimes
he gestures and nods his head.
Sometimes months will go by
before he smiles again.
But we know what he means to say.