Presenting Poetry, August Edition

Hello, readers!
After an (unintentional) break from Presenting Poetry in July, it's back again for August. This month's poem is called "The Tongue".

The Tongue  by Philip B. Strong 
"The boneless tongue, so small and weak,
Can crush and kill", declared the Greek

"The tongue destroys a greater horde,"
The Turks asserts, "Than does the sword."

A Persian proverb wisely saith,
"A lengthy tongue - an early death";

Or sometimes takes this form instead,
"Don't let your tongue cut off your head."

"The tongue can speak a word whose speed,"
Says the Chinese, "Outstrips the street";

While the Arabs sages this impart,
"The tongue's great storehouse is the heart."

From Hebrew with the maxim sprung,
"Though feet should slip, ne'er let the tongue."

The sacred writer crowns the hole;
"Who keeps the tongue doth keep his soul." 

This poem ties in perfectly with James 3:3-8, ESV, which says

"If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,but no human being can tame the tongue". 

Yikes! I'm sure you've read that passage or heard it referenced before, and there's a pretty good reason for it- our words have power!  Our tongue is one of the smaller parts of our body, and yet is has enormous power to build up or destroy, to encourage or discourage, like this song says. 
I think this poem is a really good reminder to think first about what we say, and try to use our words to lift up and encourage others. It's so important! 

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you on Tuesday with another book review! =)

//Emily