an old fence post
he's been around a few years
a good listener
Don’t listen too closely…
thought can change the
quality of ears; and what
we hear is not always what
has been spoken –
currents of
air carry sound differently --
each atmosphere a mixture
of pros and cons antagonists –
Brahma, not always a predictable
in and out breathe. Besides,
Gods can be quite contrary,
taught to us by the
Greeks and Romans; and the
one Christian/Jew God, seeming
not always
on the job punctual -- requiring, perhaps
a bit more self responsibility...?
A minimum of 2 points, to the bull's horns.
Oh what thanks I give for your presence in this life.
Your words are easy to listen and a pleasure to hear.
Who indeed in many ways stand apart from amoung the rest.
A listener of the heart, better than a listener of words.
How to be a Good Listener
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----,
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----,
---- ---- ---- ---- and finally,
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I fell into her empathetic eyes
wanting to tell her my life story
a story I rarely tell
she is a willing listener
an anomaly
a rare gem
...a phone visit with old friend:
Listen did I as he filled me in
on all the current doings
of his life.
Then,
as a pause slid-slid-slipped
into his monologue,
I said,
I have to move away.
Blink.
Blink.
And his narration continued,
...you know,
I thought
I'd explore Naples after Rome.
While you are busy praising me
And repeating sincere "I see!"
You keep staggering my story,
Less preparing for The Gory
A narrative oddly halting
Not better than the facts faulting...
Your job, now, A Good listener's
Just eyes on my lips Fasteners;
Glimpse I shall your struggling suspense
And it's s promise: my response;
Off and on make my hearer pause,
As though on my teller-lips gauze...
Always listen and listen good:
Don't interrupt my Robin Hood.
Parents could contact Director
Or him skip for The Inspector,
A Child Deviant for Hot Iron,
His strokes like African lion...
Assignment once in a long while;
Things that simply promote his style
But how does he go that much length:
An Asthmatic won’t dare for strength?
With his rebuffs of inhaler
That could increase his wahala?
Long speeches he rates as Teaching,
A settling for Fine-Tuned Preaching;
A voice rather An Awkward Blare,
A close listener to just stare…
He moves body with Strength rare,
More than Normal Human should spare;
A complete rejection of tact
While driving home a point or fact;
As he forswears Moderation:
An odd chap in my profession
I am a listener
My eyes say “tell me”
And people do
Waitresses ask me to scoot over
I have never seen them before
They tell me their life story
Strangers and I converse
in grocery stores, on airplanes, at funerals and weddings
I listen with my heart
And I do not offer advice
I merely listen
It is enough
I often hug a new “person’ goodbye
And they cling to me
I am their listener for the day
And it makes a difference
Leftie I was and leftie I be.
I never watch stupidity on reality TV
Except Married at First Sight
Which gives me delight
I am a hippie, a gypsy, a faerie, I flee….
From those who have absolute ideas, for they frighten me.
My ideas are flexible,
I am a listener, and a jumper.
I jump from this to that easily,
Fearful of the thumpers and stumpers.
I am the most liberal liberal I know, and I know many for sure
I have over fifteen hundred Facebook followers, so eclectic and pure.
I run from those who want me to believe in their ways
I follow my heart, and my spirit guides, dancing through my days.
My spirit animals are there, I am open to empaths galore.
They are my kind of people.
Absolutists I abhor.
I do not hate anyone, or want anyone to have any harm.
Love is the key I think, it is part of my charm.
She never pauses for a breath. I listen and listen and listen.
But at one point I feel strongly that it is my turn to talk.
So, I throw in a story.
She interrupts me several times, then she returns to her last thought.
I wait but this time not as patiently.
There is a break.
I dash in, telling her something I felt was humorous about myself.
That’s nothing, she says, topping my story.
This happens eight times in a row.
Me waiting.
Me throwing in something fast.
Her topping it.
I finally lie and say someone is at the door waiting to have their teeth brushed.
She listened carefully
Without comment
Learning their secrets
Filing them in compartments
They were honored
Revealing things long hidden
Loosening up their hold
More open than they should have been.
Among the dandelions empathetic fairy listened to misunderstood squirrel.
She made no suggestions, sat quietly, in silence, nodding sometimes.
Showing him how valuable a good listener can be.
Especially one who does not interrupt to ask questions.
He concluded for himself the answer as he watched her watch him.
It was the best council he had ever received.
And in silence.
Empathetic fairy had helped him fix his problem
Without contributing one word.
Logophile
A talk therapist, a friend, an amateur poet and an introvert
In love with a smile, eyes and languages
With the ideas for images, photography and calligraphy
To palliate the feelings of low, listless and lonely
Aggravated by the fears of walls, sufferings and inhumanity
That makes me like to travel, speak and love
Aided by being a resident of India, the land of six seasons
Listener
April 15, 2020
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