Power of Speech

A sensitive child,

Armed with a battle song,

You stick out your tongue,

And, naïve as you are, 

Repeat the lyrical lie

You've been taught:

“Sticks and stones

May break my bones

But words will never hurt me.”

Ironic, is it not?

They shielded you with words meant to guard

Against what, if not words that harm?

A worldly adult,

You know that muscle can break

And that words can cut

Deeper than the sharpest knife.

They penetrate the surface of your skin

And bruise.

Words may be invisible,

But they have the power to infiltrate

Even the strongest of minds,

And those words whose natures are destructive

Can and will breed doubt.

But, words may be angelic  

And as such can also soothe—

A balm for the wounded,

A carrier of hope.

So choose your words wisely,

Let their impression be sweet,

A key to the heart

Of the next stranger you meet.