a poem by

Duane Doty

the poet laureate of the taverns

Tallahassee, Florida

Words That I Would Have Back

Oh what a painful thing to bear
When attempting to be kind and care

A casual comment goes astray
When never meant crude or to say

Anything designed to hurt or be
Offensive for one and all to see

But now what can I do to show
My soul exposed for all to know

That a word spoken just in jest
Can forever not be put to rest

Regardless of my effort to request
That my intentions were of the best

When words spoken just in jest
Will remain forever in my breast

Gnawing gnawing till the end
Regardless of all efforts to defend