A friendly smile and then keep walking,
A vicious snicker and then quiet talking
A glance behind me and then sudden hush
A few steps more and then I blush
A sad realization and then unwanted tears
A drop or two and then a swipe to my ears
A loud giggle and then to the bathroom I go
A deep sigh and then the tears overflow
A calming breath and then a thought
A last sniffle and then a “wise” lesson I was taught
“Sticks may hurt and then stones too
But words will never hurt you?”
A shooting thought and then remake what I heard
A revised idea and then the new word,
“Stick and stones may break you bones
But words will still cut deeper.”