[Untitled. ] (Contest / Spilling/Spill quotes Joanna Garrido)

Some comprehend by observing.
Others learn when verbally taught

that a faucet opened full blast
wastes more than it ought…

Squandered as crashing waves upon sand
or dashing out to sea
are words aplenty conceived
and vehemently set free

without net, harness, or thought…

How can one’s verbiage be totally retrieved
from interiors of other’s mind’s and hearts

forcefully
deceived?

Caught by one’s own ignorance

or fraught with one’s own importance
words maybe ‘truthful’

perceived

without full knowledge gained
after research retained

before leaking information as ‘true’
upon eager communities?

(Sought strong forgiveness
or any kind of leniency by one and all

until another is found holding a hot ball
of free-will abused… even if thoughtless
in innocency… Shouted: “Nail Him/Her to
the proverbial ‘wall’!)

You see a see saw totters.
Balance is difficult to maintain…

Yes–Silence is golden.
But from conversation to totally refrain?

One mouth we were given.
Two ears to use.

Yet that little tongue is a rudder
steering a large vessel.
It must be instructed
on when, where, and how to handle

whether with ink, pencil, or voice.
Yes, we are all given personal choice

to express or feelings contain
even if felt: “I was only venting my personal
garbage or refuse.”… Individual journals
maybe better than outright ‘shamed’.

Since consequences remind us
to think before we speak…

Or forests will flame with fire
with us in the midst of heat and smoke
to kill, maim, or blame.

Is this the position of which we earnestly seek
at any cost to attain ‘fame’?

Or will wisdom be our endeavor?
To forever it precious claim?

***

“Know this, my beloved brothers: Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,

for man’s anger does not bring about God’s righteousness.

Therefore, put away all filthiness and every trace of badness, and accept with mildness the implanting of the word

that is able to save you.” James 1:19-21.Write a poem for contest Spilling/Spill quotes – Joanna Garrido
Choose one of the quotes to write to from 12 lines to as many as you like in any style. Please put which quote you write to in the AN (Author’s Note).

6. We live in a culture where everyone’s opinion, view, and assessment of situations and people spill across social media, a lot of it anonymously, much of it shaped by mindless meanness and ignorance.
Mike Barnicle

The Letter of James

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier* judgment.+ 2 For we all stumble* many times.+ If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body. 3 If we put bridles in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide also their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: Although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm is inclined to go.

5 So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it makes great brags. See how small a fire it takes to set a great forest ablaze! 6 The tongue is also a fire.+ The tongue represents a world of unrighteousness among our body members, for it defiles all the body+ and sets the whole course of life* on fire, and it is set on fire by Ge·henʹna.* 7 For every kind of wild animal and bird and reptile* and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humans. 8 But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison.+ 9 With it we praise Jehovah,* the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.”+ 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.

My brothers, it is not right for things to happen this way.+ 11 A spring does not cause the fresh* water and the bitter water to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a grapevine figs, can it?+ Neither can salt water produce fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy+ and contentiousness*+ in your hearts, do not be bragging+ and lying against the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; it is earthly,+ animalistic, demonic. 16 For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness,* there will also be disorder and every vile thing.+

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,+ then peaceable,+ reasonable,+ ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits,+ impartial,+ not hypocritical.+ 18 Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions+ for* those who are making peace.+ © 10 minutes ago, Lucretia McCloud    teen