Sunday, April 05, 2009

One Single Impression: Listening


One Single Impression's prompt this week was "listening." It's always hard for me not to apologize for what I post here. Fresh out of the pen/computer poems make me feel very vulnerable. I've gotten addicted to adding graphics, probably partly because it's fun and probably partly because I hope that if it looks more interesting people won't notice my failings quite so much. Listening for some reason didn't offer a lot of visual inspiration for me and what it did seemed to need to be muted. But anyway, here's what I came up with. Reading one another's poems - reading someone's blog - is a form of listening, so I thank you for visiting, for reading, commenting, listening.

If you click on the graphic items, you can see them larger and hopefully they will be more readable. Alas, this week the type may be both too small and too large...





To those who know how

Listening seems such a small thing

Oh how wrong they are

It’s a gift beyond measure

When a lonely heart feels heard





You can click on this to see the text larger.


Listening to your voice

Still in my head, Mother dear

I am lost, confused

I want to put you to rest

Listen to better angels








32 comments:

Bruce Miller said...

So sensitively written, your second poème à clef, and courageous with "I" disguised as "I" - well done indeed.

gautami tripathy said...

Made such a pleasurable read. Will comeback again..

scotch-taped

anthonynorth said...

Heartfelt thoughts in these.

Finding Pam said...

Raven, I hear your pain. I am an adult child as well.

Maggie said...

Listening to you...I heard my voice.

Painful, healing and well-done.

Laurieluc said...

I agree with Maggie. I could place myself into your words. Your poems are very powerful and you are truly gifted. I can feel the emotion in these and I'm so happy that you have found the gift of yourself. Beautiful.

Deborah Godin said...

A very moving and sensitive account of the journey!

gabrielle said...

Now we have the gift of you.

Know that you are heard, that the brave telling of your story ripples out to so many hearts. Reminding us of all those years of mistaken identity, when we saw through a glass darkly. It is in the telling that we are able to see the beauty that is there.

Nessa said...

You have no reason to apologize about your writing. Very moving.

Quiet Paths said...

These pull at my heart profoundly. Well done. You are right, there is definite art of listening which I have to learn again each day. PS, my friend Jane would very much welcome a reiki session! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you about it. If you need more info please email me. Hugs.

sgreerpitt said...

One idea that emerged from your verse -- that for others to listen we must first speak. Thank you for speaking of such profund and painful things.

Jim said...

Hi 'Raven' -- I am sorry you had to listen to all that and be the conveyor of messages to assauge the truth. I like your poetry today even though it is of sad topics of which I can share some.

A couple of lighter things:
1. Have you ever peeked at my 'Ask Dr. Jim (blog)'? It is neglected lately and will stay that way until June. I have a slight tongue in cheek blog there but some posts do help some people to some degree.
2. In the first graphic, I changed the size. I changed the '1600' to '800' in the URL while viewing to cut it in half. That way it was all on a page width.
/s1600-h/so+much+of+my+life2.jpg
change to:
/s800-h/so+much+of+my+life2.jpg
Thank you, Dr. Jim.
..

Dr.John said...

Those are indeed powerful poems. You have so many gifts. I feel bad that your demons still haunt you.

Beth P. said...

Dear Raven--
Very, very beautiful.

They remind me of a paradigm we learned when I was working with grieving children:

1. See the child--really see him/her.
2. S/he will then begin to see her/himself.
3. S/he will only then to really see others.

Love to you on your healing journey.

SandyCarlson said...

May those better angels fill your dreams with beautiful songs.

Anonymous said...

Very nice I enjoyed it. Listening is so key to so many things.

Jeeves said...

Touching. Indeed very touching. Love all of them. Wonderful read.

Tumblewords: said...

You write with rare depth and quality. I've often wondered why healing should be so painful. Excellent work!

Amias (ljm and liquidplastic) said...

Tumblewords took the words right out of my pen.

Oh Raven, such depth here, and to finally listen to self, I am still trying to do what you have archived.

This touched me deeply.

Felisol said...

Dear Raven,
Your poem is impressive in the way a crown of thorn is.
It hurts.
Then again you're giving all the mute and devastated children/adults a voice.
And a hope.
To find a Dr. Jim to listen until they too hear themselves.
From Felisol

zoya gautam said...

that which speaks to the heart is beautiful_
this speaks to the heart

Geraldine said...

I feel your pain too Raven but this is so beautifully expressed. Many hugs to you, G

ladybug said...

I recently started reading your blog and just began making use of my Blogger account.

Your words are powerful and evocative. They speak truths that need to be voiced and heard. Thank you for being you and for being here.

Carletta said...

Hi Raven,
As always you've written powerful words of a painful situation - eloquently done!

I love the transparencey of the pictures under the words - well done.

bettygram said...

Powerful and beautifully written.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Clever way of illustrating how listening has a key role in dialogue! Loved the sensitive comments about learning to listen to yourself and your own needs.

Vixen said...

Wow, those are so haunting and moving. Your writing is a tremendous gift and I am honored to be able to listen to you.

Tammie Lee said...

Powerful poems that tell a painful story. Wishing you the company of angels.

Annie Jeffries said...

I love that this pain-filled life had a happy ending. Dr. Jim was a Godsend; your own personal angel. You were formed by painful experiences but your strength carried you through and now you share beautiful words with the world.

Anonymous said...

I am going to send this blog post link to my sister because like me, I am sure she can relate. You put into words what many of us are unable or unwilling to. Putting yourself out there takes courage..Michelle

Kilauea Poetry said...

Every word touched me..so much depth. I liked what you said about reading other poems/blogs as well- this was very beautiful Raven, thanks-

Anonymous said...

To those who know how

Listening seems such a small thing

Oh how wrong they are

It’s a gift beyond measure

When a lonely heart feels heard



i know wat u mean .. been on both sides at times !! :)