whisper

if you want to be heard

  really listened to 

     whisper

if you want to keep self-control

   whisper to yourself, again and again

if you cannot tell the truth

   whisper what cannot be said

      perhaps, as it mingles with the air,

      the message or at least an opening

      for conversation will come to be

if you know you’ve been small,

   shamed yourself, with or without

   witnesses, admit it in a whisper

listen with as little emotion as you can

ask yourself if someone else had done what you did, could he be forgiven?

then ask yourself, Can I be forgiven?

   then whisper, thank you