Gossips
Hear-say is half lies, silence is wisdom
Grows by rolling as a snowball, so does a story
Those in many talks are in many lies
Silence seldom makes mischief
But talking is a plague to the Parish
An open mouth shows an empty head
The chest with gold and silver in it
Would not often stand wide-open
Free from slander if we must talk and
Not blister our tongue with backbiting
Slander, a sport to tale-bearers is death
To those who abuse
Gossips of both genders give up the shameful
Trade of tale-bearing
Never be the devil’s bellows any longer
To blow up the fire of strife
The files will go down your throat
If you keep your mouth shut
And no evil speaking comes out either
Think much but say little
Be quick at work and slow at talk
Ask the great LORD to set
A watch over your lips
Briefs of the Poem
‘Gossips’ is a poem that warns against idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling, joblessness, vegetating, hibernating, time-wasting, truancy, time to kill, time to burn, indolence and mouth losing.
The poet presents that there is a tendency that those who talk too much will be liars. He advises gossip, not to slander, and blisters our tongue with backbiting. It is better according to the poet to work hard and reduce your talk. Think much and say little.
We should not be the devil’s agent any longer to cause strife. The poet sees gossip as a slothful, dull, lackadaisical, lethargic, jobless, and flagging person. He continues that an open mouth shows an empty head. The chest with gold and silver will not often widely stand open.
The poet continues that keeping our mouths shut will make the flies go down our throats. By doing this too, no evil speech will come out of our mouths. Gossips of both genders give up the shameful trade of tale-bearing.
It is better to think much but say little instead of saying much and thinking little. By doing this, we should have control over our mouths. A good virtue is not gossip.
Word List and Meanings
Mischief: Bad behavior that is annoying but not causes serious damage.
Blister: Cause
Strife: Conflict
Tale-bearing: Slander
Practice Questions
1. Explain the message of the poem.
2. ‘The poem is didactic’. Discuss.
3. Comment on the poetic devices of the poem.
4. Explain the expression ‘to blow up the fire of strike’.
5. What, according to the poet, should be our attitude?