Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/
Words, mere words, gentler than a beating
Soft like an infant’s palm, smooth like satin
Charged like a loaded gun, ready for firing
Needing no trigger, just some clever play
That twists them enough to warp their meaning
And unleash their venom on the victim.
It’s not very hard
If you’ve perfected this diabolical art
Just open your sharp-shooting mouth
And watch your words accomplish the task.
If your timing is perfect
You’ll hit your target
At the right spot
With deadly effect
Deadlier than shooting
A bullet through their head.
Oh, these bloodless word-crimes
must never be condemned!
They’re the next best thing to non-violence
Without dirtying your hands
They meet your ghastly ends
Sparing you the horror
Of seeing the wounds you’ve left
No burden of guilt, no need for shame
Because, you see, there’s nothing to blame!
Not a single scar to prove the offence
Because no offence was ever meant
Or let me just say it straight
I know how to offend without leaving a trace
So, you can whine all you want
But it would make no difference.
So, what if I let out a stream of poisonous words?
In fact, they are rather innocuous
It’s not my fault if people have such delicate nerves
If you have to survive, you’ve got to be tough
Getting shattered by injuries inflicted by words?
Are you serious?
If words leave you bruised
You’re nothing but a buffoon
Why should words always mean well?
They can mean other things too.
And if you find them hollow from within
Why don’t you stuff them with your own meaning?
If even words were scrutinised like weapons
Silence will descend on the whole universe
So, let there be a carnival of words
Let them crawl under your skin like worms
That’s how freedom of speech is ultimately won
It’s a liberation most ardently to be desired
Why stop people from venting their murderous ire?
Do you want real bullets to be fired?
Block your ears if you’re feeling sick and torn
But let the riotous word-slay go on.
Note: Wounds that are visible are recognised far more easily than those deep within. However, psychological injuries are no less serious and merit equal attention. Cruel words can hit the psyche like a bullet. These word-wounds tend to be easily dismissed, especially by abusers, because they are hidden from view. Here’s a poem, written with scathing wit, that illustrates an abuser’s easy dismissal of the terrible wounds they’ve inflicted with words chosen deliberately to cause pain. The poem highlights emotional violence—both online and offline—perpetrated by words.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.