There are days I could scream

scream at the top of my lungs,

scream untuil my voice is gone,

silenced like my voice is now.

I could scream and never be heard,

so I do not even open my mouth.

There are many things I could say

but I keep them all in,

letting them bounce aroun and rattle in my skull.

I keep it all in because I know that words hurt,

I know that they can cut deeper than any blade,

and that they can hurt more than any blow.

So I don't say what I know can hurt others.

I am careful with my words,

because every word has value.

I rarely say something I don't mean,

because my voice is the only weapon I have

that can both protect and hurt me.

So if I speak listen closely,

think about what has been said,

I don't want to waste my breath

if it will get neither of us nowhere.