At its most basic level, the pen is a device for putting ink to paper. But the pen is far more than that. It is a vehicle for change, a tool to create, and a means to perform one of the most basic human tasks, communication. With it, letters of both love and regret have been composed. We have used it to declare war, sign peace treaties, and write and rewrite history. And although it has evolved throughout the centuries, you would be hard-pressed to come up with a single item that has taken part in more aspects of life throughout recorded history than the pen.
Unfortunately, as we have entered the digital age, the pen has lost favor with most. We are replacing pens, ink, and paper with keyboards and screens. Most would see this as progress. After all, it's much quicker and more efficient to type. I however, feel that with this transition, there is something lost. There is a dull sterility to digital things. With the uniformity of the medium comes a uniformity of thought and expression. There is something sacred about the relationship between nib, ink, and paper. With every new combination comes a different and unique writing experience. As if each one is whispering their own insights and inspiration in the ear of the writer. There is something magical about the feel of the pen as it glides or scratches its way across the page. The paper seems to drink in the ink as the earth does the rain. The process is slow and deliberate, as every stroke resonates with permanence. All of that beauty and depth is lost with the click, click, click of the keyboard. That is why I will remain stalwart in my use of the pen, upholding the tradition and passing it on to future generations.
