Watch Your Mouth

Loquaciousness,
talkativeness,
garrulous gossip,
long-windedness,
voluble verbosity,
motormouthed
verbal diarrhea,
prattling, babbling,
pleonasm, prate,
jabber, chew the fat,
confabulate,
small talk…
avoid all this.

Draw a boundary between
useful, interesting,
constructive conversation,
and indulging in
the rehearsal of error,
the thoughtless dissection of others,
the analyzing of individual frailties,
the probing of personalities,
the savoring of shortcomings
the expounding of false beliefs.

Discipline yourself
to have your oral utterances
be entirely elevating,
blessing all,
excluding error,
personal sense,
opinion, the fastening of
negative history on anyone,
or the repetition of
any kind of evil report,
refusing to partake in
any juicy canards,
scuttlebutt, rumors,
scandals, or hearsay.

Do include humor, spontaneity,
warmth and kindness,
and wholesome discussion
about creative solutions to
humanity’s challenges,
buoyant with hope.
Do express congratulations,
compliments, support,
appreciation and gratitude,
helpful ideas, consideration,
patience with others’ fears.

Ask for the help you need.
Remark on beauty and ingenuity.
Say only what needs to be said.
Comment wisely and succinctly.
Tell stories that amplify virtue.
Articulate compassionately.
Share good news.
Give voice to truth.
Let all your dialogue
be aflame with Love.

by Polly Castor