The Tone of Voice

It’s not so much what we say 
As the manner in which we say it; 
It’s not so much the language we use 
As the tone in which we convey it; 
“Come here!”, I sharply said, 
And the child cowered and wept. 
“Come here,” I said- 
He looked and smiled 
And straight to my lap he crept. 

Words may be mild and fair 
And the tone may pierce like a dart; 
Words may be soft as the summer air; 
But the tone may break my heart; 
For words come from the mind 
Grow by study and art---- 
But tone leaps from the inner self 
Revealing the state of the heart. 
 

Whether we know it or not, 
Whether we mean or care, 
Gentleness, kindness, love, and hate, 
Envy, anger, are there. 
Then, would we quarrels avoid 
And peace and love rejoice? 
Keep anger not only out of your words- 
Keep it out of your voice.

~Author Unknown

(Though many claim it.)