Someone said a hurtful thing
I was going to answer back
Defend myself but I didn’t
I cut myself some slack
Hold on and think about it
Why this curt remark
Have I offended someone?
I was in the dark
Maybe they’re just struggling
Expecting to hear from me
And when my side was silence
They had a dig at me
Main thing is I didn’t say
Just apologised
And thought about the wisdom
That the Lord gave to our eyes
Don’t ever say a hurtful word
It only causes pain
And if a word is said to you
Count to ten again
Don’t go throwing oil on flames
Making matters worse
Talk it out just to yourself
Put it in a verse
My father always comes to mind
I never heard him swear
And he a D-Day soldier
And a miner dark down there
Never raised his voice to us
But he’d call a spade a spade
And his voice was fair and gentle
I hope I make his grade
Brian Fahy
20 January 2022
Erris Poetry 