The trouble is, when you slash out
you might hit what is dear
and does not know what it’s about,
so try not to get near.
This makes a slashing out just dumb
– you don’t hit what you like –
in any case by rule of thumb:
stop short before you strike.
If you are strong and strong-willed, too,
you rein your impulse in,
thereby avoid damage to you
and others to begin.
