It’s a good time
for me to be quiet.
It’s right to notice how bombastic
some of my voices can be —
they like to turn everything
into a lesson, so they can
be the teacher,
so they can feel that exalted
sliver of space between themselves
and those they would instruct.

Humility is required,
and that may mean
keeping my mouth shut
for what may seem
a very, very long time.

©Wendy Mulhern
March 9, 2017