Sticks & Stones

Sticks & Stones

And I know sticks and stones

Can break your bones

But words can break your spirit

Words with their meanings

And their interpretations

Can be wielded like weapons

And if there's one thing that every poet knows

It's that you must choose them wisely

You can't bring a knife to a gun fight

And you can't pick flowers with a machete

Sticks and stones can break your bones

But words can break your spirit

And what good are bones

When your spirit is broken

Words bury themselves like seeds in vulnerable places

Words simple or complex

Can be wielded like weapons

This is why Jesus knew

That words can be cast like stones

Synthesized in mines of judgment

Tossed from the depths of misunderstanding

Catapulted through thin lines of separation

To lodge firmly into softened skulls

Where they'll grow and bear fruit

Or fester and bear filth

Sticks and stones can break your bones

But words can heal them

Words exchanged between nurses and surgeons

Words flowing through schools like whirlwinds

Words from a concerned acquaintance

When you had no clue

That someone was thinking about you

Words shine light in dark places

Reveal evil behind smiling faces

Even tell us whose grave this is

And what the deceased's desire is

You see,

Words foster immortality

So as a poet, I'll live for eternity

Author's Note

I want so badly to use my words
A constant cascade of self-expression
If only I could show you how many poems I've written in the shower
Although brain waves are supposed to be stronger than paper
My poems somehow still seem to disintegrate under the water
And spiral down the drain

Reviews

[JC]

Damn, this is awesome...the meaning, the insight, the flow...how you illumined that we as writers have knowledge of how powerful words are, and how they can affect terrible damage or build us up...very strong piece with so much depth, thoughts that I can relate to and believe in....even your author's note is poetic....my mind is all over... manipulation, destruction, enticement, inspiration, confidence...just some of the things words can do...

[Lizzie Mitchell]

you totally get it
thanks for the review!

[Alex Boyd]

I love it I can relate both the giver and receiver of bullying I understand the context of your poem and I must say I wish you could finish please do not be another Da Vinci. Unfished masterpieces that the world has yet to discover it's true potential and that what I see potential in you. I like your ideas and so you should complete them because as a reader (audience) we do despise unfinished work.

[Lizzie Mitchell]

thank you I think it's finished now

[xhannyx]

A very strong poem with a great message! I love it!

[Lizzie Mitchell]

thank you!

[xhannyx]

:) of course

[Riley Justine]

An over all good idea, but I have a few suggestions:

-capitalize all the first words of each verse, it will always make your poems look better
-"Words with their meanings,
(Remove 'words') With their interpretations
Can be weilded like [dangerous] weapons" These things will improve the flow
- In the last line of the first stanza remove "and you" so it stands as "[Or] pick flowers with a machete"
- "And what good are bones
When your spirit is (broken)?" Change the last broken to a different word to get rid of repetitiveness
- "Words [will] burry themselves like seeds
In (very) vulnerable places" Maybe change the very, but if you make that 2 lines it will sound better
-"Words can be weilded like weapons
[And] this is why Jesus knew"
- if you want it to rhyme at the very end, because with the rhythm it feels like it should you can change it to: "That words can be cast like [terrible] stones
[And set emotions askew]"

Other wise, VERY well done :). I liked it a lot!

[Lizzie Mitchell]

yes thank you! i'll consider all your suggestions!
I think if you heard the way I read it, it would flow better
it's supposed to have a sort of Andrea Gibson flow to it ;D
but it can definitely be revised
i'm still planning to add to it too!
thanks for the review
I owe ya two!

[Riley Justine]

Oh that totally makes sense now that I read it with that in mind! But it was my pleasure :)!

[Lizzie Mitchell]

so I capitalized the first words and got rid of words in the 5th line and added a lot to it
better?

[Riley Justine]

Sounds amazing! It flows a lot better now too! Really good job!

[Lizzie Mitchell]

thank you!

[Chris]

In response to the poem within your Author's Note - I think you HAVE shown just how many you write - in your thoughts and with your thoughts. And THAT feeling we get as life sluices bits of us - away.

As to the intent of the page... the very day you realize you aren't a kid anymore is the day you really understand something you just blurted out without any thought CAUSED the look you recognized in someone else's eyes.

[Michael]

I really really really dig the word play and the use of more elaborate meaning words that you have to semi understand to understand some lines. Keep up the good work and I hope to hear more from you soon! And don't let a unfinished poem get you down or beat up, I have tons that are unfinished because I can't find the right words at the time. Keep using your emotions to write, it's like a wick with fluid waiting to ignitez

[Lizzie Mitchell]

Thanks so much. Reading a review like this gives me confidence. I can re-read my work with renewed eyes. It's so helpful to get another perspective and see if I'm relaying the message I'm feeling. Thank you thank you thank you ^_^

[Michael]

Anytime! Now don't let me down and keep this up!

[Lizzie Mitchell]

you too :P