when i was a little child i was taught the saying, “sticks &stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”. at the time, i saw the good sense of it. words -being imperceptible to the touch, have no propensity to inflict physical harm. whenever another kid said something unkind to me, i would  declaim the saying loudly to my self, using it like a shamanistic incantation that would safeguard me from getting my feelings wretched &help me drag my self to school for another day the next day til kingdom came (thank god for endings). i usually said it with tears running down my cheeks. as a person of mature age ive come to realise that the saying is, like many things taught to children, a lie. the truth is that physical bruises &bones heal, while the harm done by words can last a lifetime or, at least, until alzheimer hits you. im writing it up here only to remind those who post/write about their damaging statements of the power they wield. &that is the power to wound with words. the power to be hateful. seeing the leading candidate per surveys – i think we now realise theyve absolutely no power to affect likely the success or failure of the person in context whoever that person may be.. in that battleground they’re laughably impotent. unengorged. feeble. flaccid, if u will. forever shoving, but never really penetrating. but i should pace carefully here. i dont want to now turn into the very thing i decry. one who uses words to hurt. having been a victim of verbal abuse, i irrefutably wouldnt want that on my conscience.