Listening

The search for peace begins within
I hear the names of God
I hear the names of the Gods
chanted out before me
Their names float and hang in air
Bodies enraptured to the vibrations
cause by this fervent devotion
Can you hear me
Can you hear us
Your children
calling out to you
This home you have given us
These bodies we live in
Time passing through it all
I close my eyes
I am listening
The voice reveals itself
Strong as wind
Gentle leaves whispering

To Listen

Begin by listening
What should I listen for
Listen to the stillness within
How can I do that
Find a time and place to be
alone and quiet
Once you are there
be quiet
close your eyes
and it will come
What if it doesn't
It will
even if you don't
realize it
Then what
That's for you
and only you
to know
and decide
Trust in yourself
and listen
and when the time
is right
act

Listening

Finding himself unable to sleep he decided
to stay up as late as he could.
He opened his window and listened
to the still of night. At one point
he heard a sound that could have been
two people making love.
Listening to the world while others slept
he felt as though he had accidentally
stumbled into a great truth.
The greatness of this truth was quiet
and sought to bring no attention to itself.
It was content to simply be.
He began to yawn and feel fatigued
but he had no interest in sleeping.
He wished to sit in stillness
as the world around him dreamed
of things that would be forgotten
once the sun shone and life resumed.
The lateness of the hour burned into him
as he saw its red eyes raw and feral.
He decided to close his eyes and listen.
He listened and listened until at last
He listened to life in another world.