Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Words

Words are great forces in the realm of life:
   Be careful of their use. Who talks of hate,
Of poverty, of sickness, but sets rife
   These very elements to mar his fate.

When love, health, happiness, and plenty hear
   Their names repeated over day by day,
They wing their way like answering fairies near,
   Then nestle down within our homes to stay.

Who talks of evil conjures into shape
   The formless thing and gives it life and scope.
This is the law: then let no word escape
   That does not breathe of everlasting hope.