The Power In Our Words Poem by Jim Yerman

It's odd…when you stop to think about it…
once it's formed within our mind
how a word…any word
has no meaning until it has been read…
until is has been heard.

Our words on paper have no meaning…no one will ever heed them
If the paper is not circulated…if there's no-one there to read them.

Our words we're thinking of are useless…no one will ever get near them
If they remain unspoken…if no one is there to hear them.

It is an awesome responsibility we've been given:
The power to spread joy or heartache with each and every word…
Once they have been written…and read…
Once they have been spoken…and heard.

I wish we understood more how the words we use and how we use them
make other people feel.
How our words can create in others everlasting joy…
or scars that never heal.

I wish we'd all try a little harder to release into the world
words of happiness and joy…
and limit words meant to hurt another… to debase, demean…destroy.

I wish we were more adept at using words meant to be gentle, tender and kind
and allow the harmful words…before we use them
to dissolve back into the recesses of our minds.