There is a form of mature communication Probably not to be found in textbooks It comes refined with age and experience And the realization that feelings are tender And emotions are to be guarded With care and concern. |
| In choosing one’s battles carefully One must overlook the words cloaked in triviality Teaching about honesty for honesty’s sake Being in the Now Letting people know where you are at These have their place, but most often they are rife with pitfalls. |
| In daily life there are dozens of little things That accumulate on one’s shoulders like a swarm of bees It could be a lover It could be a dear friend It could be a celebrity, an announcer or politician Somehow, sometimes they just get under one’s skin. |
| The first impulse is to respond Honesty is the best policy, yes? Not always. Honesty and truthfulness require energy Energy that oftentimes must be conserved For larger, more poignant and significant moments. |
| This is not a call for dishonesty Honesty that is filled with anger or hurtfulness Can damage a relationship or ruin a day, week or year True honesty is reflected upon, spoken with care Motive needs to be inspected And one must speak out of caring and forgiveness. |
| Honesty is the best policy my parents used to say But in my small world I occasionally write a letter to the editor Or have a heart to heart talk with my patient spouse. But more often than not I find It is a kinder and softer way to let it all go. |
| After all, what may bother me A missed moment A chance comment taken out of context Better to give a benefit of a doubt To let sleeping dogs lie Who am I to disturb the universe? |
| So you say, what about my anger, my frustration? I say channel it positively Into something physical or creative There are a myriad of mind occupants One can chose from It is a choice. |
| So I choose my battles carefully They must be concerning and very important Not relegated to the mundane or trivial Daily ups and downs, moments of impatience or anger In the scope of things, in the breadth of life they are dwarfed. I prefer a House of Peace. |
| Sheila W. Mooney |
| June 2009 |