Uttered Word Poem by Padmanabhan Ananth

'To the words we say
We are slaves.
Those we don't
Are our slaves.'
Says a quote

Isn't that right?
Often we cite
Then wish we could
'Unsay' what we did!
But alas, never!

'The unspoken word
Never does harm! '
Lajos Kossuth said
Leader from Hungary
Of mid-19th century

'Why speak what
We will then regret? '
Is easier asked
Than followed
Speak one has to.

Message here
Is for us to think
Before we speak
Like 'look before
You leap.'

But often
We don't take
The time to think
Before we say.
Slip o' the tongue!

Often we forget
What we said
Our thoughts cloud
The said word
Bringing grief.

'Will heal the hurt
By fire brought
That by words, will not! '
A Tamil Kural*
A quote forceful.

Had we reasoned
Before we said
We'd sure recall
Words all
Then no bewail!

But if we do learn
To ponder, consider
Our words before
They're said.
Regrets averted!

To so learn
If we begin soon
We'll someday
Attain mastery
Over all that.
- -
*Classical Tamil Poetry by Thiruvalluvar.