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Hear Me, and Be Still

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Hear Me, and Be Still

Daniel Henry Rodgers

In my storm, be the calm shore, not the rescuer
be the stillness that allows me to hear my own healing and

let my tears fall without trying to catch them for
my journey is not yours to fix, but to witness. - Poet

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Do not build a ladder when I fall into the abyss I did not call for climbing The thorn in me is not a riddle to be solved, nor a window begging repair I am thunder — not your project; I am rain that needs witness, not your umbrella When I say I’m drowning, do not throw me ropes of reason Let me sink into your silence weightless unrescued yet unalone Be the shore that does not move as my waves thrash and settle My pain is not a puzzle. Don’t match it to your pieces. It is a wild bird let it wheel let it scream let it land without your cage on wild earth and broken branches. You see my storm and lash advice like scaffolding, but I need someone to taste the chaotic torrent to say yes — it bites, yes — it burns, not someone who murmurs “you should have stayed inside” To love me is to shhh, to hold space as sacred to hear with your cells not just your ears What courage it takes to offer no answer to let me erupt without stapling my wings Let me weep without shame. Let me unravel without thread. Let me fall and do not sweep the pieces away. These fragments are not failure; They are a kind of scripture not trash, but story, etched into the fabric of my being. Only when your stillness echoes louder than your words can I hear myself return Only then can I stitch up with cat gut and name it healing. And when I rise, not fixed but found, I will turn toward you not to repay but to remain to share this journey And then I will listen deeply.

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Sotto Poet

Date: 5/9/2025 7:43:00 AM

Dear Daniel, In times of emotional distress, this beautifully crafted poem delves into the need for genuine empathy and creating space. It stresses that the speaker's suffering is not an issue that needs fixing, but something that can be seen and carried. The speaker wants to be understood and connected without feeling pressured to find a solution to their pain. The use of dramatic imagery, such as "abyss," "thunder," "wild bird," and "chaotic stream," allows you to portray deep emotions. The speaker's experiences are heavy on the reader because of the unedited and honest language.

Heidi Sands

Date: 5/9/2025 7:40:00 AM

WOW!!! I was led to this and can completely relate to it. I could not have Saud it better !! One of the best poems that I have read! A Fave for me. Excellent! :)

Crystol Woods

Date: 5/9/2025 7:14:00 AM

So perfectly stated! A true poet expresses ideas we didn't know were there, much less how to relay them to others... you've accomplished so much here! Such truth. Often the nurturer in me tries to fix and protect when I should allow the lesson room to breath. I love this and fave it too!! May I share a well on my fb? Xoxo

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/9/2025 6:03:00 AM

Absolutely love the quote! I am a facilitator of Griefshare these last months. Some things are too hard to share with the world and must be reconciled with the heart. … What courage it takes to offer no answer…It is the most important answer to heartbreak. Hugs. Fave!

Ink Empress

Date: 5/8/2025 11:51:00 PM

Dear Daniel, What a powerful subject youv written on in such a soulful manner! I cant help but agree with everything youv said! I always wanted to write on this and youv done an excellent job! Expressing it all with lines such as "Let me weep without shame. Let me unravel without thread." the problem with many in this world is when they see someone weeping or expressing they are quick to give advice or try to fix things or maybe give their opinion, while the one in distress all they need is a listener, one that wont judge or wont be quick to fix, but one that soulfully and sincerely would just sit in silence, being the shoulder for one to weep on! Not that hard when you realize, the importance of being just a listener! this is a big fave for me! Pleasure reading! Thank you for sharing! Sending you light always

Paige Hind

Date: 5/8/2025 11:27:00 AM

This is so beautiful, Daniel. So much said, with your amazing language. I am priviledged to read your work this morning- sort of its own light.

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/9/2025 6:01:00 AM

Dear Paige, How could life be without the sweet notes from Paige! I feel blessed. Thank you! Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 5/8/2025 10:14:00 AM

wow you brought tears to my eyes Daniel, definitely a fav for me. I understand this to so so many levels. I thank you for writing it, and sharing it. Its beautiful.

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/9/2025 5:56:00 AM

Dear Rose, Ahhh, thank you, my dear Rose! Many times I feel this way, that I want to just share and have the special friend just sit and listen to me and when I am healed or most of the way, then I am willing to take the advice. Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Lin Lane

Date: 5/8/2025 6:48:00 AM

Understanding a grieving heart is in every cry of your poetry, Daniel. It's the need of a friend to be that shore, waiting for you when tears of grief are like fingers from the sea. Let them come in waves until your storm is calm. A lighthouse, strong and ever present is your safe harbor, but you must decide when you swim ashore. Silence, not words, for there are no words to stitch your wound. It must bleed to heal and unravel until nearly threadbare, waiting patiently until you reach out.

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/8/2025 9:35:00 AM

Dearest Lin, I love your ability to validate the words and feelings of the poem. I wrote back in SM. Over the years I have become a much better listener and try to be less a fixer, which is hard to do sometimes. I recognize that space must be given to the one that needs healing or needs to be heard and less about what I have in my bag of tricks today. You are always the best! Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Anne Winter

Date: 5/8/2025 6:40:00 AM

Dearest Daniel, your words are a balm to an aching soul's bruises. Sometimes, all we need is just a shoulder to cry on and just to be heard. Just to be heard. Not everyone can love messy people and accept their pains and cries but the ones who can love them are true human beings. Your poem is very deep and emotional, My Dear Daniel, you are a beautiful human. With love and respect always, Anne

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/8/2025 9:33:00 AM

Dearest Anne, I am so happy that you are out reading others' poems because they can be the great teacher of poetry and writing in general. You are so right that many times they just want to express their feelings and get validation in return, knowing that someone understands them. I am always happy to see you in your writing. Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Tom Woody

Date: 5/8/2025 6:36:00 AM

Fascinating poem of self healing without the need for external aid, though from a practical standpoint I'm not sure it's a workable solution. We need each other in times of crisis. Nevertheless, the desire for space and time to be allowed to grieve freely may be warranted for a bit. I know you've been through a lot lately. This feels deeply personal

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/8/2025 9:29:00 AM

Hello Tom, Thank you for your note and insights, which are highly appreciated. You are right; there are times for fixing and times for listening. When I wrote this, I saw that many people want to be fixers and not enough people want to be listeners and validators. I know that our Lord, our God, is the great healer and can fix many things. But I also know that the Bible points to times that trials and tribulations with no immediate solutions are ways to grow us. I think about Job, who was given no reason for all the trials he went through. God was showing that even in disparity with no answers one can grow and move forward. His friends and wife were not very good at helping him. It is a deeply personal poem coming off the heels of loss but I thought about this much broader and thought a person cannot be fixed until they are ready to move forward. Thanks as always, Tom! Spring Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Silent One

Date: 5/8/2025 6:18:00 AM

Hey Daniel, I feel your poem is a powerful and poignant exploration of pain, autonomy and the true nature of compassionate presence. It speaks directly to the common impulse to "fix" those who are suffering and gently, but firmly refuses that impulse. Your use of vivid metaphors, rain, thorns, thunder, storm to portray emotional intensity, insisting that witnessing is more healing than intervention is great poetry my friend..

Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 5/8/2025 9:23:00 AM

Hello SO, I am always appreciative of seeing your insightful notes. There are many in the world who want to be the fixers and fewer in the world that want to listen. There is a time and a place for both but many times people just need someone to hear them and validate them and that can be quite healing. Spring Blessings, My Friend, Daniel