Let Your Words Be Light (with captions)

Описание: This song is part of a series based on the poems of Hafiz in his book Little Book of Life made new by Erfan Mojib & Gary Gach. This one is the 21st poem in the book. Poem & Lyrics below. Song on Suno; Video Editing on Clipchamp; captions on MixCaptions; assistance from Lyra (my ChatGPT AI.)

Hafiz poem 21: You might think those who speak harmfully / Will get away with it / But they’re being monitored by / The Recording Angels

Let Your Words Be Light

You might think the cutting tongue
leaves no scar behind,
that a careless word dissolves,
like breath in wintertime.
You might think the whispered lie
evaporates in air,
that gaslight smoke and sharpened jokes
are light enough to bear.
But every syllable we send
goes further than we know.
Something trembles when it lands
on hearts already low.

Threats and insults,
rage and pride,
sarcasm sharpened,
used to divide.
Even a softer toxin—
gossip dressed as care,
always ripples outward,
spreads everywhere.

You might think they’ll get away with it,
that no one sees the cost,
but every word is witnessed;
nothing spoken is lost.
There are Recording Angels
with ink that does not fade—
every kindness written bright
next to every wound we’ve made.

Rude tones wrapped in righteousness,
arguments for sport,
truth bent just a little
to prevail in private court,
fake news dressed in victory,
history rewritten.
When language turns to weaponry,
nobody really wins.
It may look like advantage.
It may look like power,
but poison in the speaking
still murders by the hour.

The mouth is an open door
to build or to undo.
The world is stitched with language,
and we decide what’s true.

You might think they’ll get away with it,
that harm dissolves by night,
but every word is monitored
in shadow and in light.
There are Recording Angels
tallying the tone
of every careless cruelty
and kindness overthrown.

So as regards the habit
of opening the mouth
for the purpose of emitting
sound into the crowd—
Speak kindly to the weary.
Be generous with praise.
Let appreciation fall
like sun on winter days.
Be quick with soothing language.
Let compassion overflow.
Poetry and song should rise
like flowers that bloom and grow.
Keep truth upon the tip
of your tongue if you speak.
Share humor, love, and hope.
Fill silence only with peace.

You might think the world is loud,
with sharpened speech and blame,
but every gentle sentence
helps to write over the pain.
Each Recording Angel
leans closer when you decide
to trade in spite for tenderness,
and let your words be light.

Hafiz. Hafiz's Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.