Conversation

Once I had a lot to say

until I learned what not to say

in order not to give offence

to avoid battering against the fence

of deeply held belief.

So it was with relief

that I broke the habit

and no longer grabbed at

conversation.

Then I found it all too quiet

and decided to break the verbal diet

the initial obstacle to cross

was the discovery of total loss

of patterned words for conversation

and worse, I found in consternation

were the same trite truths

from predicted angle

the same nowhere threads

left in the air to dangle

silently.

So to silence I again retired

serene in knowledge late acquired

of a truth never heard, but often told

that speech is silver, silence gold.

Wrapped in this knowledge I now find

conversation from mind to mind

more accurately expressed by touch

as hands and kisses don't lie - as much-

as words.