Sometimes—too many times—we say things we don’t mean, or say things we do mean, but say them in a very wrong way. We use words like weapons, and often times think nothing of the damage we’ve done. The saying is: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.” Too bad it never caught on.
Lasting Words
Weathered face behind a graying beard
A man shuffles down the sidewalk
Guiding a rusted shopping cart
One broken wheel clunking dully
An object in the gutter catches his gaze
The hint of a smile glints in his tired eyes
As he stoops and retrieves the dirty baseball
Its cover peeling at one broken seam
Thoughts flash—memories of long ago
A voice—angry and violent—screaming
Use both hands! Both hands, damn it!
Why won’t you listen to me!
The ball slips from his grasp, rolls in the gutter
He lets it remain there—stares
The twinkle gone from his eyes
As another voice shouts from the past
Use your head! You’re gonna get us all killed!
As he stands in the darkened doorway
Grenade in his hand, listening to a baby’s cries
Realizing… too late… he’s armed the device
He raises his right arm and stairs at the filthy nub
Where his right hand used to be
The one that threw fastballs, curveballs… and grenades
Then was gone in a flash of noise and blood
His father’s voice then—snarling and slurred
You’ll never amount to anything… you’re worthless
He moves on; pushing all he owns in the limping cart
As a car full of sullen teenagers slows—they stare
One of them hurls words like bullets; Get a job, ya bum!
Raucous laughter erupts… then the car speeds away
Eyes that sparkled moments ago now fill with watery sadness
He wonders why words… are used like weapons
Copyright © 2013 C Mashburn
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Marbles In My Pocket ~ The Official Blog of Charles L. Mashburn ~ Poems, Short Stories, and random thoughts from the author of "Be Still... and know that I am God" 
brian miller said
dang…i bodily felt those words hurled at him…from the past…and from the current situation…so sad man….if we just realized we are all one step from it you know…our words have such power as well…vivid in how you play this out man…great story telling in it too…
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the wonderful comment, Brian! Much appreciated!
claudia said
oh heck…we should never judge…and even more not if we don’t know their story…ugh…you made us feel him charles…
charlesmashburn said
Thankf or the comment, Claudia! I appreciate it!
Susan L Daniels said
Oh, Charles. This hits me in the solar plexus. So well done.
charlesmashburn said
I hope I didn’t hurt ya!! Glad you like the poem!
Susan L Daniels said
No pain, only a wow…
charlesmashburn said
🙂
Anna Elizabeth Graham said
A very compassionate and revealing poem. You tell a compelling story. I see exactly why you thought it would fit with the prompt. Thanks so much for joining us today.
charlesmashburn said
I appreciate the kind words, Anna! Glad to be here!
Heaven (@asweetlust) said
Words, specially unkind, can hurt as bullets ~ Like the metaphor here of “bullets” to his former life, and now as an old man ~
charlesmashburn said
Interesting that you see him as old. I suppose the graying beard led you to that conclusion. I had him pictured as not really that old at all–maybe late forties, early fifties.
Thanks for the visit and comment!
Tino said
Words are weapons, sharper than knives, makes you wonder how the other half die. Devil Inside, INXS.
Such a sad write, very reminiscent of a piece I wrote a few months ago. Homelessness is the scourge of a so called civilised society and that message is loud and clear in this.
charlesmashburn said
There have been homeless people since the beginning of time, I suppose. But it seems to be getting worse all the time. A terrible thing in any case.
Thanks for the visit and comment!
gar08 said
this was touching:) THANK YOU! Peace Cheri Gerulatt 512.227.5533 http://www.austinpetsalive.org office@vivaverdecleaning.com
________________________________ From: “Marbles In My Pocket ~ The Official Blog of Charles L. Mashburn ~ Poems, Short Stories, and random thoughts from the author of Be Still… and know that I am God” To: cherigerulatt@sbcglobal.net Sent: Thu, March 21, 2013 2:08:45 PM Subject: [New post] Lasting Words
charlesmashburn posted: “Sometimes—too many times—we say things we don’t mean, or say things we do mean, but say them in a very wrong way. We use words like weapons, and often times think nothing of the damage we’ve done. The saying is: “If you don’t have anything good to say, do”
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! Good to hear from you!
Amy Jo Sprague said
T
his is so tragically sad, and sadly so real excellent excellent job. I’m very touched
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Amy Jo!
pandamoniumcat said
Oh this brought tears to my eyes, so much anguish here. You convey the emotion strongly in this one Charles! An awesome poem!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the great comment, Dianne.
siggiofmaine said
Intense, Charles, intense. WoW. It read so alive to me.
Thank you
Peace
Siggi
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Siggi!
Rowan Taw said
Such a sad poem – I just want to make things better for him..
charlesmashburn said
Yes, a sad situation indeed.
Thanks for the visit and comment, Rowan!
beckykilsby said
You’ve done something special here and that is to get inside the heart and head of someone else..and allow the reader to understand that perspective for the duration of the poem. In fact, for longer… nicely done Charles.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Becky!
wolfsrosebud said
ah you captured this so beautifully… so sad… usually it’s the ones that are suppose to love us the most
charlesmashburn said
Yes, sadly true regarding who should love us most.
Thanks for the visit and kind words!
Tony Maude said
Dark, intense, tragic – it would also make a brilliant ending to one of the too many war movies. Brought tears to my eyes, Charles, and shiver down my spine.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for this awesome comment, Tony! I appreciate it very much!
kkkkaty1 said
Great story of empathy and putting ones self in another’s shoes….a hard life …and we can;t look the other way…
charlesmashburn said
A hard life indeed. Thanks, Katy!
hypercryptical said
The destructive effect of cruel words perfectly illustrated here Charles. Sad tale my friend.
Anna :o]
charlesmashburn said
Sad, but all too familiar these days.
Thanks for the visit and comment!
Truedessa said
Charles, another great piece and your message speaks loud and clear..you are great with the pen..
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words!
kaykuala said
Words can be so damning not just to the vulnerable but everyone else.How cruel can that be. Nicely Charles!
Hank
charlesmashburn said
Words are powerful!
Thank you for the visit and comment, Hank!