Last Words

What was the last thing you said aloud?

The last words you spoke aloud ~

did they lift another’s mood?

Or were they barbs and insults,

continuing a feud?

 

Did you tell a hurtful joke,

or make a rude remark?

Was the last phrase that you uttered

negative and dark?

 

Spoken words have power,

they can echo through the years.

What will your voice reverberate

in your last receiver’s ears?

Author's Note

"Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's awfully hard to get it back in." - H. R. Haldeman

Reviews

[Kristin Lee]

Such an important thing to always keep in mind!

[Rita L. Sev]

Yep! Thanks, Kristin.

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

Well said... the message is beyond true. We have to be very careful of the energy we send out to the world. Words destroy as does the wrecking ball.

[Rita L. Sev]

Amen - so true, Travis - thank you.

[Vani Jalagar]

good one.......I remember the last words said my dear friend before he left. once the words are uttered, it can never be taken back. one should thing before they talk and act.

[Rita L. Sev]

Exactly. Glad you liked this - thanks, Vani

[Samuel Jack]

"I told you I was ill"- Spike milligan

There was an English lord in the 1800's, Lord Rigby I think, anyway He decided to see if it was possible to die while leaning on his mantelpiece. The butler reported His success to the local new paper.

[Rita L. Sev]

:) People are so quirky, aren't they?

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Great message, Rita. This seems to happen more frequently than not. Regret lasts forever. Your have a knack making poetry seem so effortless.

I'm going to catch up on some reading this weekend, so you'll be hearing more from me over the next couple of days.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Damien!

[LJW]

Excellent message. Reminds me of the whole Golden Rule thing. Another piece of wisdom we should all heed.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, LJW

[Auria]

Wow, what a strong ending. This piece really made me think. Once something is said there's no taking it back. Ever. Even if the second party says it doesn't bother them.

"Stick and stones may break my ones but words will never hurt me."

I can understand why that was taught as a nursery rhyme but words can be truly devastating as they are uplifting.

Great write and well done.

Your poem speaks truth.

~A

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you very much, Auria. Yes, words stay with us - for good or for bad.

[Baby Ricochet]

This is very true. The words and the toothpaste both

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Mark

[wunder]

~i love your first stanza-isn't odd how things-
words-or even that odd look that reminds you
how much you hurt someone in the past sticks
with you-and just when you believe that you're
forgiven it's usually the self that's the forgiver...
...well that's what the first verse did to me~
~"Spoken words have power/they can echo through the years./
What will your voice reverberate/in your last receiver’s ears?"~
~you have written such a really excellent poem i think~ :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, James. I'm glad you liked this piece.

[wunder]

~!yes-yes-i really-really loved it!~

[MOON]

Lovely write being mindful , the last words can echo and damn!

[Rita L. Sev]

True! Thank you, Moon.