Greeting Cards of Gold, Love and Kisses

If I am tempted to reveal
A tale someone to me has told
About another, let it pass,
Before I speak, three gates of gold.

Three narrow gates: First, is it true?
Then, is it needful? In my mind
Give truthful answer, and the next
Is last and narrowest, Is it kind?

An if, to reach my ips at last,
It passes through these gateways, three,
Then I may tell the tale, nor fear
What the result of speech may be.

Author Beth Day