a poem by winter contest winner, ’21

They say that sticks and stones

Will break your bones

And words will never hurt you

But sticks and stones

When you’re all alone

Can make words stick like glue

Like falling leaves

Bruises go away

But pain inside

Is here to stay

The frigid air

Never aware

Of what it does to you

The human voice

Makes sound by choice

And hurt you never knew

Like falling leaves

Bruises go away

But pain inside

Is here to stay