Fragile Vases

Self-esteem is such a fragile vase Easily shattered by thoughtless words You can tell by the look upon her face That the breakage has already occurred On the verge of becoming a woman Venturing out into the world on her own And she is battered by words full of venom From adults who should better have known You should build her up and not tear her down Simply because you envy her for her youth You’ve already had your night on the town Don’t destroy her with what you think is truth The pieces that now lay broken Are not easily put back into place You cannot take back words that were spoken And restore the confidence that you have erased Allow your child to love herself And be proud of the vase that she is Remember your youth and how you once felt Wanting the confidence to go out and live By Joe Flach, written for the Picking Up the Broken Pieces Contest