Final part of my graduation speech

The Power of Words

It's odd that many compliments
And kinds words are ignored.
No matter if they are sincere,
They seldom strike a chord.

Yet criticism causes pain;
It pierces like a blade.
It tends to cause the memory
Of all nice words to fade.

This fact is especially true
And cannot be forgot,
When criticism's very harsh,
constructive it is not.

So cogitate before you speak
For words are very real.
Potentially they wound and harm;
But they can also heal.

Kathleen Y. Bergeron