Stop the Parade

Gossip can be very hurtful.

Stop the Parade


Huge words guided by some unknown intention
reared up in the crowd, out of control

bearing down upon a woman and a child.
A man known as the town drunk

leaped from the wagon leading the parade
and grabbed the reins, showing

for the first time in his life, his worth;
I sat and watched it happen.

If you ever hear someone begin:
“I probably shouldn’t say this,” STOP THEM.

Still, the words with deadly force
are the ones we tell ourselves.






Ann Howard June 20, 2012