Many a man’s tongue
Has broken his nose
Many a woman’s lips
A token of what she knows

Like a campfire flames a forest
One utterance turns to chorus
What pollutes minds fumes from lips
Contempt consumes relationships

Control the instrument under your nose
Corral the tongue bridle what goes
Discipline the animal kick the habit
Break the horse that wreaks such havoc

Can’t mix trash with chocolate
Can’t fix a crash with an afterthought
Sweet water mixed with salt no one drinks
Fierce words pierce hearts hope sinks

Talk is cheap wounds expensive
Taken seriously lives deep within us

Compete to hear not to converse
Repeat no criticism no gossip rehearse
Veer from rumor use wit to cease
Steer the human bit toward peace