When we listened to Fiddler on the Roof
And I was so excited because I'd seen it live
When we lived in the Philippines.
I tried to describe it to my teacher,
To tell how it had been acted out,
And I was confused when he said,
"They must not have been very good."
I thought then that I hadn't explained well,
But I've wondered since if
He hadn't understood because
He couldn't see that a third-world country
Could produce something professional.
I don't know. I merely guess.
Yet I think of the words of a mentor
Who advised me in later years,
"You have good ideas, but
Always be aware of your tone."
In other words,
Be careful how you say something
As much as what you say,
Because words and tone are dangerous tools
When used carelessly.
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| Photo by Carolyn C. Givens |
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