To Speak or Not to Speak

To speak, or not to speak,

That is the question:

Whether ‘tis better for my mind to submit

To a scathing evaluation,

Or to bear arms against a sea of censure

And by opposing, zip it!

To speak, or be silent,

No more; and by silence to say I end

My mental critique

‘Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.

To speak, or be silent;

To attend; but say nothing -

Ay, there’s the rub:

For with that silence, what contest can occur,

When there is no speech to evaluate,

Must give me pause – there’s the respect

Given to a test speaker.

For who would bear the comments citing:

The structure’s wrong, the conclusion untimely,

Lack of gestures, movement or display,

Missing eye contact, better language,

Greater volume, needs a pause or delay.

Couched with kindness, expressed with tact,

The contest trophy that person won’t lack.

I write and rewrite with a weary sigh,

For the dread of no test speaker,

Not one that attends,

Makes me rather bear those words

Than see tears of disappointment.

Thus conscience makes cowards of us all,

And thus with renewed resolution

Thoughts of sickness

And enterprising stories of great illness,

With this regard fade away

And loses, to action.

Shush now! I write,

Fair in my reflections,

Kind in words remembered.

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An article by Nancy Huang (Vice President Education - Chatswood Speaking and Leadership Club)