Definition of Tough - By A. Layne

Sticks and stones may break your bones,
But words can deeply wound
And soon after the plaster of protection known as “skin deep” is penetrated
By the sharp tongue, a weapon so vile that the damage done leaves lifelong
Scars on her inner beauty, her soul, her heart
And these scars they mar the true essence of you
The beauty God gave you
They’ll consume you.
If you let them.
If you let the tongue cut, and you let the soul get hurt only you are to blame.

So they talk about you, then you must be about you
Their fiery lies are embodied and breathe life only through your failures, your shortcomings
And your justification that they may be right and you may not be able to
Do what you set out to do.
‘Cause for every ounce of hate you take a pound of faith must replace
The space left by these attacks which hold no weight.
My dear, you have to be tough.
Definition: strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.
Not brittle or tender. Our hearts are tender so our souls and our minds have to be, tough.
Our minds learn what we teach it and
Our souls eat what we feed it
I can lead you to, but not make you do, what you need to do to be a better
You, you have to be that beacon, that light, you have to be the sun that shines
For others like you, who see themselves in you
Weakness is not an option, and failure?
Well I don’t have that definition nor should I because
My definition of tough has no antonyms, only synonyms
So if spittin’ illness is sinning then your enemies are willin’
To lose a battle they think they’re winning, when in reality
Your own sanity and your composure shows you’re done
That you don’t need to fight for what you’ve already won

So don’t hate back, wait and watch before you react
For the simple fact that their lack of self betterment
Will only destroy them internally, and externally it will show
Its ugliness in what they do and what they will become
Please don’t let that be you.
Don’t let anger consume and control all that you do
But let your passion team up with your reason to dream
To believe in yourself as I do, myself as well as others around who
Want the best for you, who look up to you, who need you
That’s why you have to be strong, you need to be tough
Because your strength makes each of us tough, too.