Words Bite like Snakes

 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no profit for the charmer.
Words from a wise manʼs mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
At the beginning his words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness —
and the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what is coming —
who can tell him what will happen after him?
A foolʼs work wearies him;
he does not know the way to town. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:11-15 NIV

Words bite.
Give me sticks and stones.
They may break my bones,
but words after words after words
extinguish my anima,
crush my soul.
Why besiege those who matter most
with vile hatred?
Why treat the ones you love
as you would never treat a stranger?

Lord, let the words of my
mouth and the meditations
of my heart
be
love.