Watch Your Words

[Denise Bethea]

Keep watch on your words, my darlings,For words are wonderful things.They are sweet like bee's fresh honey,Like bees they have terrible stings.They can bless, like the warm, glad sunshineand brighten a lonely life;They can cut in the bitter contestLike an open, two-edged knife.Keep them back if they're cold and cruel,Under bar and lock and seal;The wounds they make, my darlings,Are always slow to heal.May peace guard your lives, and ever,From the time of your earthly youth;May the words that you daily utterBe the words of grace and truth.- Minnie E. Ludwig