The Fiery Tongue - a Sonnet Advocating Non-Violent Communication

The heat of bloodhounds slakes our silent chords
And moves our mouths to spew absurdities.
For, whether lies or truths, our words are swords
Which stir and sting us both like angry bees.

These subtle knives eviscerate the hearts
Of both the cutter and the victim.
Thus, flinging forth the devil's fi'ry darts
As if to canonize his dictum,

We make ourselves servants of Tartarus.
And may as well invite the devil in,
-to feed and stoke our pride at burning thus.
Forgetting, we, that love cov'reth o'er sin.

Neglecting words which light the Psalmist's path:
That kinder words can overturn such wrath.

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6 (NIV)