STICKS and STONES and ABCS
”Sticks and stones may break your bones
but words will never hurt you.”
Was it said to me my youth
When hot tears would daily fall.
The sobs, the wails - silence child!
Her cold impatience - Quiet!
In their dry the buried pains
hid deep in fear forgotten.
"Cry some more and you shall have
something more to cry for!"
This was love as taught to me.
Silent seeds of my disease.
O’er long years in muffled rage
dark grew a cancer rotten.
In little things the symptoms
were first seen. The snipes, the jabs,
minor slights of no import.
Yet ferociously I stab!
So easily offended.
Tread ever lightly, cross this
my path with trepidation
blind pain to be your wounding.
Lost in empty righteousness
monstrous defense rears malign.
No quarter to be given.
No cut’s inflicted wound too deep.
Heave long pain and hurl the hurts
that long upon me feasted,
shredding my humanity.
No piercing barb too sharp.
My poison tongue a razor,
no sharper blade existing.
My heart eclipsed in darkness.
No blinder fool found living!
My decency, bright goodness
in darkness stifled silent.
The child’s natural innocence
below the raging surface;
Ever gasps and struggles on
for a breath of golden sun.