Lesser known lessons

The less you talk about yourself the less they will talk about you

Conversations travel and turn into Chinese whispers soon you have no clue

Just like food, bland information is boring – each person adds a thing or two

Shortly you find yourself filtering fabrications from what was really true

 

The less you display your wealth the less they will trouble you

Claims of abundance create jealousies everyone claiming some due

Declarations of dearth fashion fears they will now look down upon you

Whether the monies accumulate or diminish hostilities still accrue

 

The less you exhibit your knowledge the less you will have to rue

Mediocrity rules and is convenient, intelligence will certainly not woo

Each one will grasp only from their level of perception the onus is on you

In case you have not noticed the wiser ones are so much quieter too

 

The less you demonstrate your feelings the less they will go askew

Thus fewer prejudices and judgements to face that invariably follow in lieu

Emotional baggage is yours to carry advice-givers have little to do

Expert opinions will be offered still each reaction from a variable view

 

The less you pronounce your beliefs the less you will turn blue

Explaining your stand and justifying your conviction even to a few

From the unseen line between opinion and opinionated you must take cue

Remember, like relations, some beliefs recurrently need repair and renew

Chaos

Words made noise. Emotion caused chaos. Beliefs floated

At least I had my silence I thought. My silences were misquoted

I am learning life lessons because learning must be my mission

A mistake repeated more than once is not a mistake. It’s a decision

Now I know I must make way and leave from where I am not wanted

What I allow is what will continue. I had allowed to be taken for granted

 

Paint was splattered. Hues were darkened. The spotlight shifted

At least I had my authenticity I felt. My truths were shoplifted

I am changing attitudes and affinities because attitudes raise the bar

Your attitude is like a price tag. It shows how valuable you are

Not everyone deserves to know the real me. So many verdicts are spam

My happiness cannot rely on your judgement. Criticize who you think I am

 

People changed. Things ended. Life still goes on

Every night drowned in darkness is always followed by dawn

The world had me believe emotions and opinions must be given vent

As I mature I realize so many things don’t really need my comment

A lifetime isn’t as long as you think. Take a moment and let that sink

Between your choices and your culpabilities there is always a link

The things we worry about!

Stray thoughts. And thoughts that stray!

 

Don’t worry if you are not invited or don’t have networks to boast

It’s the ones who spurn you who believe in your power the most

If you look at the people in your circle and you are not inspired

You don’t have a circle you have a cage that is rewired

 

One thing about the tables they have tendency to turn

Some connections need rebuilding some bridges need to burn

If the world was full of blind people who would you impress

If your appeals fell on deaf ears how would you express

 

Words are free it’s how you use them that may cost you

Long drawn pieces trigger drama keep your words to few

The quieter you become the more you will be able to hear

Even silences can be misquoted let responses remain sheer

 

Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property

You may maintain your silence you are just as guilty

Talking badly about someone while they aren’t there to clear doubt

Says more about you than the person you are talking about

 

Walk away from fights that will never be resolved

Walk away from immaturity that refuses to evolve

If you can’t do anything about it just let it go

What does not let you free will not help you grow

 

Turn your wounds into wisdom. Your battles into motivation

Just breathing can be such a luxury. Acquit affectation

What you are not changing you are choosing. Choose with care

Spaces are brittle moods crumble. We repeat what we don’t repair

Influence

The eyes express enough in defense

Ears hear untruths and sit on the fence

The tongue lets loose and makes it tense

The mind must analyze to hone intelligence

I wish to rein in each sense

I wish to be fluent in silence

 

The heart can be sensitive to offense

The spirit can be dispirited whence

Passions can be painted through psychedelic lens

The soul can shrivel with impact hence

I wish to harness strength immense

I wish to be fluent in silence

 

Honesty must be handled with prudence

Tact is treasured indiscretion is a sign of dense

Integrity can be compromised by circumstance

Between self-respect and ego there must be balance

I wish to learn this subtle difference

I wish to be fluent in silence

 

Words hang in the air like reminiscence

Sweet ones leave behind their fragrance

Yet one wrong one can destroy confidence

Our choice of words will give us credence

I wish to master the art of reticence

I wish to be fluent in silence

 

 

Inaction approved

Sometimes what you see may not be the truth

Sometimes eyes can deceive proofs can be uncouth

So keep your observation in check and double-check

Why invite trepidation by sticking out your neck

 

Sometimes what you hear may be sheer hearsay

Sometimes ears cannot decode words are at play

So keep your disposition dispassionate

Until you verify news and views accurate

 

Sometimes what you say may have adverse impact

Sometimes the tongue can cut loose ignoring tact

So keep your desire to express tractable

Your language gentle and words retractable

 

Sometimes you may jump to conclusions hastily

Sometimes you become judgmental verily

So keep your intellect handy and verdicts tame

Inactivity is healthier than passing on the blame

 

 

 

Distances approved

Sometimes when you become very close

With friends and kinfolk conversation flows

Uninhibitedly. Emotions lean towards verbose

Remember there is a line not to be crossed

The right balance requires nothing is in overdose

 

Sometimes societal pressures push you gently

Towards doing things against your wishes. You mentally

Disagree. You cannot express yet want out eventually

Remember waiting in the wings is wasteful time

You might find yourself lingering in life perpetually

 

Sometimes someone may inadvertently play a role

Of giving advice that soothes your anger but injures the soul

Take a deep breath and think before you act. Your goal

Is to move on in life. Not hold on to hatreds and grudges

On hindsight satisfaction in letting go and forgiving is tenfold

 

Keeping distances from doubtful unscrupulous stuff

Keeping toxic peoples at arm’s length can be rough

You don’t know what is overboard and what is enough

Keep seeking good counsel. Keep conscience by your side

The tough keep going even when the going gets tough

 

 

 

 

 

Silence can be deafening

When words are tumbling out incessantly

Like storm waters gushing in rivers relentlessly

An obstinate refusal to reason or writ

A tumultuous outpour sans brevity or wit

Something is amiss. The loner amidst herds

Hiding silences amidst words

It is not for real. There is a façade. A feigning

Such silence can be deafening

 

When eyes meet eyes and then look away

Hurt hides behind camouflaged subtext on display

Holding on to sunshine to keep the night at bay

A pretense kept patently. Dark moods going astray

Closed lips keep quiet, those eyes have much to say

Masking wounds yet looking away is the giveaway

What happens once the subterfuge starts waning

Such silence can be deafening

 

When hearts are wrecked where is the noise

When souls are shattered why the poise

When trust is broken how much it destroys

Taking away with it the bliss, the smiles, the joys

Everything around comes to a standstill

You can bring to halt a universe at will

This kind of quiet is unnatural. Unnerving

Such silence can be deafening