The Preachers Preach Magic

Oh, tongue, thou art mistaken.
The preachers preach on the magic
Word, which brings fortune or despair.
Yet, I know what thou mean, my LORD.
The tongue can bless---how how it can bless.
It can bring happiness, joy, peace, comfort.
Or, the tongue can curse. It can shake a man’s faith
In himself, and his own paths.
And given this, the curse sets one on a path
To hardship and despair.
And the tongue sets one on a path
To prosperity the more it blesses.
For, encouragement lightens the heart
And discouragement makes it weighty.
Yet, the tongue which speaks truth
It is the tongue which will be rewarded.
For, sometimes curses are spoken
To bring a soul to repentance.
And sometimes blessings are spoken
To bring a soul to despair.
Sometimes, a hearty rebuke---a curse even---
Is far more just than a blessing spoken
In flattery.