'Twas but a breath-- <br />And yet the fair, good name was wilted; <br />And friends once fond grew cold and stilted, <br />And life was worse than death. <br /> <br />One venomed word, <br />That struck its coward, poisoned blow, <br />In craven whispers, hushed and low-- <br />And yet the wide world heard. <br /> <br />'Twas but one whisper--one, <br />That muttered low, for very shame, <br />The thing the slanderer dared not name-- <br />And yet its work was done. <br /> <br />A hint so slight, <br />And yet so mighty in its power, <br />A human soul in one short hour <br />Lies crushed beneath its blight.<br /><br />Anonymous Americas<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slander-3/
