The right thing to say..

Some people always seem to know what to say

I’d love to discover their secrets some day

To put my foot in mouth I am inclined

Somehow my reasonably sharp mind

Does not appear to be as bright

When tasked with choosing words right

So often what I intend as witty repartee

Ends up sounding pathetic, honestly..

Worse still, sometimes sentiments I hurt

Or I end up sounding uncaring and curt

I realize my mistake after the fact

And mope in private for lack of tact..

*

How I envy people who always know

The right thing to say wherever they go

Their words fit each situation well

And tell the story that they want to tell

Is this is a quality innate that I cannot imbibe

Or would spending time with them transfer to me their vibes?

*

To avoid a faux pas, I am trying to embrace

The power of staying silent, as I face

The truth that saying the right thing may be

An unachievable goal for me

*

Let me not ramble on and on

Let me my hat of silence don