listen

Listen, listen, listen

the words repeated to me

over the years

whispered in books

and shouted in stern eyes

listen, listen, can't you hear?

i am listening. 

can't you tell?

you are not listening

you 

are

  not

but i am.

i am not speaking.

my ears are open.

i hear what is being said

and the silence.

you are not taking in

you are not gathering it

you are letting it go

no, no. 

listen.

gather it up in your heart.

capture it.

okay. 

i forgot what it was like to listen

and not to speak afterwards.

to not constantly reply

and give advice.

and

when i did

that was when

i felt the most filled