But Words Will Never Hurt Me

It's funny how the saying goes:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”

“But words will never hurt me”

Because words cut me deeper than a sharp stick

Or a heavy stone

I will lie there,

Shattered on the floor-

My day ruined by a strangers remark

An encounter lasting no more than a minute,

Kills my soul

The saying should go:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”

“But words tear my heart from from chest”

I linger on every cursed word-

Every syllable spit from the mouth

A thousand people could compliment me

Yet I would be hooked on that one rotten sentence

Spoken from that one rotten mouth

Why?

Why is it so easy to tear me down?

I tell myself that I don't care what other people think

Turns out, I care