Smoke

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

 “It is better to understand little than to misunderstand a lot.” - Anatole France

“We’re all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.”  - Rudyard Kipling

“In the whole round of human affairs, little is so fatal to peace than misunderstanding.” - Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

Sometimes, we convince ourselves we are on the right track for achieving this or that goal; rightly or wrongly, only one way to find out. Invariably, this means communicating our aims and purpose to others, which, in turn requires bringing into play the process of communication. Sadly, we do not always communicate well, - especially with the written word alone - leaving ourselves wide  open to one of the unkindest life-death forces of all… misunderstanding.

Friends and family, for example, often  disagree . Now, agreeing to differ is one thing, but when certain perspectives on whatever it is people disagree about are distorted by misunderstandings, then any smoke in the eyes needs to be cleared, the fire put out while still manageable. 

More often than not, all it takes is a willingness to try and understand each other and talk things through, the life and breath of real communication, a life force so often killed by those of us unable to see clearly for the smoke of human egocentricities. Well, we can but try, bearing in mind that it takes more than one person to talk things through and someone has to make the first move or... 

Many if not most of us often need some signs of encouragement to make that first move; no encouragement, no positive thinking; another family member or friend lost to that old troublemaker,  Misunderstanding. 

As my mother used to say, when in doubt...don't be afraid to ask - or be quick to take offence at what you might hear, just get stuck in and talk things through.

Sadly, given that misunderstandings invariably give rise to false assumptions, those same assumptions only encourage more smoke... in which any need or desire to ask is inclined to go out of sight, out of mind.

SMOKE 

The voice is clear
so, too, its sounds falling on my ear
even as they become distorted
by other voices in my head raising
doubts, confusing me
for their incompatibility with sounds
I expected to hear, the words
in my ear all but another language to me,
a growing incompatibility

The way is not clear
to make a reply to silences in my ear,
taken me by surprise by smoke
in the eyes where the only fire lit lies
within a heart-and-soul
unable to quite believe what it’s hearing,
questions put to life forces
prompting a need to engage in discussion,
only to change direction 

Having wrestled clear
of doubts, fears and other nightmares,
I continue on my way
as first mapped out by my convictions,
disturbed, but not deterred
by smoke, in other eyes now, failing to see
the alternative reality inspiring
me to go on, in pain for leaving you behind,
unable to read your mind…

Time, barely healing its cuts from our failing
to head off tragedies of misunderstanding

Copyright R. N. Taber 2022