Listening

It’s time again for sharing my Poem of the Month (August 2026), and rather than writing a brand new one, I chose LISTENING, which was written a few years ago. 

The message continues to be timely, and appropriate for people of all ages and walks of life… as fresh and new as it was when my pencil left the page originally.

In the spring of this year, another one of my terrific great-grands, Tommy, graduated from high school, and is off to college in another few weeks.

And, I have made it my project this summer to review the poems that have made it into the 18 books, selecting the essences to share with the younger generation. That is how I re-discovered LISTENING.

The complete poem LISTENING (all six verses) made the cut, and though I didn’t enclose it in the graduation envelope, along with the card and gift, I thought the message was perfect for an 18-year-old, as well as for those of us many years away from high school graduation.

I hope you like it. It is such a pleasure to share it with you.

Remember, whatever the question, love is always the answer.

LISTENING

The key to the art of listening, my loves,
Is selectivity, it has been said.
You alone stand guard and decide
What you’ll allow into your head.

Listen to the good, tune your ears to love —
To hope, to courage, to self-esteem.
Tune out gossip and fear and resentment.
You decide for yourself your own theme.

Listen to the beautiful! Relax with the music
Which inspires mankind to do good.
And listen to nature’s cacophony of sounds,
Including your own, if you would.

Listen with your eyes. Let your imagination soar,
As you read poetry and novels by the pound.
As you stroll through a gallery of paintings
Let your own soaring mind provide sound.

Be discerning, seek truth with an open mind,
And listen patiently, not in a hurry.
Listen for essence and learn as you go;
Listen with your heart, not your “jury.”

Listen to yourself, to your noblest impulses,
To the deepest and highest you can reach.
Be still and meditate; listen with intuition
For the inspiring wisdom there to teach.