Words Poem by Jim Yerman

Words are only combinations of letters formed within our heads
But they have the ability to evoke emotions the moment they are said.

A word by itself is not beautiful or ugly, complimentary or demeaning
It’s the people who utter them that give our words their meaning.

Some words when spoken from a place of love have a musical refrain
While others when spoken in anger are meant to damage or cause pain.

Some words make us feel good and bring us happiness too
Like freedom, smile, joy, peace, love and family to name a few.

Some words when they are uttered leave fear and sorrow in their wake
LIke Alzheimers, Aids, war, death, tornados and earthquakes.

Yesterday a friend of ours informed us her doctors wanted to see
If cancer was growing inside her so they performed a biopsy.

Biopsy, another word that fills your heart with fear
As you wait for the doctor to say, hopefully, the words you want to hear?

It’s interesting that once her story got out and we read words written by her hand
Words of encouragement came rushing in from all across the land.

Words of love, of compassion and support...words easy to comprehend
Drifted softly through the heavens and landed on our friend.

Our words were the only way to show her we were behind her and we cared
And to let her know her suspense was something we all shared.

The next day as we all waited for our world to realign
Our apprehension transformed to exhilaration when we heard the word...benign.

Yes, one day one word can cause us woe, or anguish or concern
And the next day another word replaces it and makes the joy return.

That is the nature of our words in this or any other day
We never know what kind of words will randomly drift our way.

If we spend our lives using kindly words that help us gather friends
Then one day when we need them, those words pay dividends.

For when I think about our friend and the words of her friends I recall
Perhaps words of sympathy and kindness are the most beautiful words of all.