L Milton Hankins Poet Rubaiyat

The Pen Is Mightier

Beware the tenderness of anyone’s toes
Especially that of your friends and foes,
For pain, they say, is its own reward
Can be magnified with additional woes.

Carefully measure your daily deplored
Consider exactly what you can afford,
Wise to keep in mind the old, old saying
A pen is mightier than the sharpest sword.

Eschew the obnoxious mouthy braying
Think about those words you are saying,
Not easily embracing mundane compliance
Your time better spent in earnest praying.

Be skeptical of those who seek alliance
For they have capacity to offer defiance,
For your actions they do not think right
When you are seeking a friendly reliance.

Be aware, my friend, of every slight
Keep both friends and enemies in sight,
And walk your own paths in caution
Especially when strolling in darkest night.

written October 3, 2021

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Tom Cunningham October 4, 2021 at 11:29 AM Looks a tricky form but I think you've cracked it. Tom L Milton Hankins October 4, 2021 at 12:05 PM Thanks, Tom, it is a fun form to work with. In the contest, however, he is requiring 8-syllable lines, so I won't enter this one. I'll keep working on it and maybe come up with something.

John Lawless October 4, 2021 at 7:51 AM As the words of the song said "it's only words, but words are all I have..." A mentor of mine once told me "you have the right to be right, the right to be wrong and the right to keep your mouth shut in both cases" L Milton Hankins October 4, 2021 at 8:09 AM What your friend told you was very true...and good advice, John. Words are all I have to express my beliefs, my feelings, my moods, etc., so I hope I use them wisely. Who can tell???