Beverly Read Poet Verse

Notes About The Poem

I used to think it was cool to be witty and say what popped into my mind.  It took me a long time to realize that words can hurt - others and me - so I became careful instead of careless.  At least I try to be careful.  Am I always successful?  Probably not but I work at it.

My Careless Words

I opened the top drawer of my mind
and carelessly took out some words.
I threw them about with little thought
of where or on whom they might land.

Many bounced when they hit becoming scattered and lost;
Some stuck like burrs holding fast where they fell;
A few jabbed like barbs causing prickling and itching;
One flew straight as an arrow into the heart of a friend.

But I was amused at myself and filled with conceit,
there in the midst of an admiring crowd.
Caught up in the wonder and pride of it all
I gave no thought to the missiles I'd fired.

But wait, the crowd grew quiet, and
suddenly I knew something was wrong!
They were all looking at me with disbelief and fear;
then the circle parted and I gazed on a terrible scene.

My words had become visible, each ugly one of them,
glinting and mocking me everywhere I looked.
I ran from the crowd, from their jeering delight
thinking only one thing, disappear, disappear.

It was then I saw my friend.


Fighting for breath and losing the fight;
impaled and dying on my careless word.
I cried, "Oh my dear God. Please, what have I done!"
And I ran to my friend saying, "please, please hold on."

Then I opened the bottom drawer of my mind
and carefully, so carefully took out some words.
I carried them to my friend and gently held them out
hoping, praying that they would be enough.

My friend lived that day, no thanks to me,
and forgave me for my awful deed.
But oh what I'd give if I could recall
that word and the pain that it brought.

To you who, like I, have been careless in your talk,
take care what you say, set a watch on your tongue.
Else you too some day will see effects you never meant
from words you can't get back, ever.

Submitted 5 Sept 16

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Andrea Dietrich September 17, 2016 at 8:17 PM wow, what a great representation of words as dangerous as slings and arrows. WEll done, Beverly. I really enjoyed this. Beverly Read October 18, 2017 at 2:21 PM Thank you Andrea. So glad you read this and enjoyed it. Beverly

Jan Allison September 17, 2016 at 3:21 PM I think we can all look back and wish we had kept our mouth shut - but its a steep learning curve especially when those words come back to haunt us:-( hugs Jan xx Beverly Read September 17, 2016 at 3:38 PM Thank you Jan. So true. I used to have such a big mouth, now I try to wait to speak, and when I do I speak more with more carefully chosen words. At least I try.

Eve Roper September 9, 2016 at 9:31 AM Oh well written, Beverly, I am the mirror of that and it wasn't because of wit more because of ignorance.... little by little I realized that when I though it was to be kind it was more like a knife in their hearts. Beverly Read September 9, 2016 at 3:23 PM Thank you Eve. I had to learn to watch my words so I didn't say things I didn't really mean. Such a lesson to learn. Beverly