They burst forth
As if breaking free
From the chains of bondage
Holding them bound
Dancing in the wind
As they moved stealthily
Across the short distance separating us
I watched
Mesmerized
As he clutched his chest
His eyeballs growing wider by the second
And collapsed in a heap
At my feet
It had happened yet again
I had killed my brother
My family
My blood
Not with my hands
But with my words
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut
My words wouldn’t remain trapped
She had dared to contradict me
I boiled with rage
A tirade of insults came gushing out
Like water pushing its way through a broken dam
I watched her
As they sprinted into her ears and mind
Running as if to win the hundred meter race
Turning into burning fire
Licking her hair
And moving down her body
Till all that was left were ashes
The only remains of my best friend
I had killed once more
Not with my hands…
But with my words
His handsome face contorted
As I handed him a death sentence
‘Useless!’
Became a long knife wound on his hand
‘Worthless!’
Turned into a gaping knife wound on his neck
Blood oozing out
Till he fell prostrate at my feet
Yes he- the one who had loved me
I had killed yet again!
Not with my hands…
But with my words
Alas, I could not help myself
I wish I could help stop
Only time would tell
Needles pricked her flesh
My hateful words piercing through her delicate skin
Leaving one to wonder
Whether at this juncture
I was doing acupuncture
Her body went rigid
Eyes wide open in an eternal glassy stare
Giving me an accusing glare
A cousin turned sister gone forever
After that dose of poisonous words
The murderer in me had struck yet again
I had killed!
Not with my hands…
But with my words
Lives and love lost
By a treacherous part of me
It was time
Time to keep that part shut
For the better part
Time to bring forth only what would edify
And not what would destroy
Time to weigh the power of my tongue
Time to ensure that my words would build up
And break down no one
Not that man or woman
Not that boy or girl
The time to build up with words had come