Heartless

Words
So small
So petty
So meaningless
So powerful

Sharper than a dagger
Words are
Inflicting wounds
Greater than any other

They say
"Sticks and stones
Can break my bones,
But words
Will never hurt me"

I say
"Sticks and stones
Can break your bones,
But only words
Can slay your spirit"

I try
To ignore it
The accusations
The mutterings
The stings of tongues

I try
To assure myself
That their opinions
Do not matter
That I cannot please everybody

But it hurts
It hurts so bad

Why, oh why?

I suffer

- Ch'iale Verin, 235 2A