Words can cut too close to the bone.
Words’ outside meaning fires the skin.
Words’ inside meaning, hidden from view
fires up hateful spew, just as true.
Words can cut too close to the bone.
splitting back the skin of what we have known.
Words open gaps to see within
what we have long hidden beneath our thin skins.
Words can make the blood flow strong,
too hard and too fast for too long.
Words flow beneath the marrow
to the depths of what we think we know.
Words pulse with their own beat
dancing through bodies to the soles of our feet.
Words leave bloody footprints to follow
until all blood is lost and our souls become hollow.
This is how words kill.
From outside in then out again
opening wounds we did not know
had crusted over wounds from long ago.
Words tear scars opening wounds anew
while ripping apart the peace we had found
to cure and to heal hate with love.
Words tell us love can never be true.
Words tell us love is not real;
if real, then, love is too weak to abide.
Words help us bury love so deep it subsides
and only hate can hold court inside.
Words boost false pride
that I am better than you.
I die inside as I try to kill the few
who speak the truth you once knew.
annarino writes 