On Talking

And then a scholar said, Speak of Talking.

And he answered, saying:

You talk when you cease to be at peacewith your thoughts;

And when you can no longer dwell in thesolitude of your heart you live in yourlips, and sound is a diversion and apastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking ishalf murdered.

For thought is a bird of space, that ina cage of words may indeed unfold itswings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek thetalkative through fear of being alone.

The silence of aloneness reveals totheir eyes their naked selves and theywould escape.

And there are those who talk, andwithout knowledge or forethought reveala truth which they themselves do notunderstand.

And there are those who have the truthwithin them, but they tell it not inwords.

In the bosom of such as these the spiritdwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on theroadside or in the market place, let thespirit in you move your lips and directyour tongue.

Let the voice within your voice speak tothe ear of his ear;

For his soul will keep the truth ofyour heart as the taste of the wine isremembered

When the colour is forgotten and thevessel is no more.