Listening to Life
What shall I write?
She asks the wind
With certainty it will answer
Without regret
Write of the simple things
Small acts,
Simple transgressions,
Responses to life
Write of the squirrel
Circling the tree
Or the birds
Calling out to their friends
Is it a greeting or a warning?
Without study we don't know.
But we hear them,
We see them,
The question is,
Do we understand?
Write of the aches and pains
The joy and laughter
The present of presence
Moments
When our heart hasn't noticed
A sing-songy phrase
Or a blunt statement.
Which one
Does the wind call to you?
And yet what I hear
Is the plane overhead
The sound of the cicadas
Or frogs in the marsh.
Does it matter
If I can discern every sound?
Or should I merely be grateful
For the opportunity
To hear at all?
What does it matter?
What truly matters?
Make room for the latter.
At times we listen better
When we let go
Of the noise
Rattling in our mind.
Opinions
Assumptions
Expectations
And judgments
Who are we to decide?
And yet,
Who are we to not stand up
For those in need?
There are many
Without voices,
Whose words are not heard.
Whose choices
Are ignored or ruled over.
Some battered and bruised
And don't utter a peep.
Who shall speak for them?
Nestling into this new day,
An abundance of reflection.
Funny, the wind is still
And yet
Thoughts are abundant.
Listening without regret
Can be that way
Will I listen again tomorrow?
Or once again
Will busyness entrap me?
Believe it or not,
It is my choice.
The choice to give voice
The choice to listen
The choice of presence
I'll ask again tomorrow
Until then, I have today.
To listen without regret,
Like the wind
Poetry & Photography by Susan LePlae Miller
July, 2024: Photo taken in Alaska - somewhere between Seward and Anchorage
August 30, 2024: Poem written and posted on LinkedIn
If you would like to collaborate (do a reading, drawing, painting, photo) of any of my poems I would love to add YOUR voice and form of expression to the collection, please comment below or reach out via Susan LePlae Miller on LinkedIn.