The Mitre

 A mitre box (US spelling, "miter box") is a woodworking tool used to guide a hand saw to make precise mitre cuts in a board.

The Mitre

The patient craftsman

sets the saw to wood

at just the right angle

to match corresponding pieces

Words

We set our words

against the angles of our lives

If I cut my words

on the angle of hatred

Others so shaped 

will fit right in

If I cut my words

on the angle of fear

Those with the same fears

will fall seamlessly in place 

I have cut my words 

on the angle of anger 

and found they fit too well 

Some cuts 

once made 

cannot be squared again 

If I mitre my words

with compassion

Compassionate souls 

will answer in kind

If I mitre my words

in kindness

I double that kindness

in matching angles

Two boards 

joined not by force 

but by angle 

holding more 

than either alone 

Looking back 

I want to find 

mitred cuts 

useful in building 

Cut with kindness 

Build with compassion 

Labor with love 

© Ron Simpson Jr.