I’ve seen many times
Like a dart that hits a stray mark
How friends among each other
Open and honest
About nearly everything
Will say something
That inadvertently hurts
Other friends listening
And although unintended
The pain hurts nonetheless
Silently stinging a listener
When a group of us were talking
One friend brought up
How horrible funerals are
And I happened to know
That another friend there
Had just arranged a private service
For her sister who’d passed away
I watched her wince
Hearing those words
Her eyes turning distant
I’m know I’m guilty of this too
Growing older meaning
That many more times
So what do we say
Do we have to be careful
Of every word we speak
Words that flow so freely
In familiar company
Do we restrict the scope of conversation
Because we might wound
Or offend our friends
Lanning Lee 