Poem: Unspoken

Say nothing or,

if that’s too

hard, say less

than what you

said before.

Restrain the will

to speak your mind;

be kind to those

whose ears

are near.

It’s best to keep

your tongue still.

Too many words

have passed your lips.

Too many lies,

half-truths

that spin the world

by counter-turns,

and burn to ashes

all that’s real;

ashes,

long before

they touch the ground.

This article appears in August 2014.