kind words
make you feel
soft, for a minute—
loved and sheltered.

harsh words
slash like
a butcher knife,
pierce through your
heart, and stay
on your mind for days,
weeks or even years.

but at some point
in our lives,
kind words protect
you from the truth
while harsh words
expose you—
forcing you to wake up
and see that the world
isn't black and white,
it won't always spin
around you,
it will render you
helpless, hopeless—
but sometimes,
a slap teaches better
than a warm hug.