Indelible

Whoever said

“Sticks and stones

may break my bones,

but words will never hurt me”

did not know the power of

a well-timed verbal barb.

Many a sting I’ve endured

from sharp sticks and rocks alike.

But never did the pain

pierce so deep

or linger so long

as a vitriolic word.

What is not commonly known

about the nature of the spoken word

is that words hold a tangible substance,

solid as any physical thorn.

Once released into the atmosphere,

words may impart a gift of hurt

in a single cutting remark,

unable to be retracted,

lasting as a wounded heart.

If only we all took some time

to consider the indelible mark

left behind by the words we speak.

Maybe we would wait a moment

before expressing our thoughts,

or simply let a few nasty syllables

fall unspoken by the wayside.