Someone Is Listening
By John Herlihy

I speak,
But no one is listening.
I listen,
But no one makes a sound.
I wait,
But no one is there to greet me.
I keep silent,
As waves break within me.

I pray,
But who is there to hear.
I sing,
But the melodies disappear.
I endeavor,
But my efforts come to naught.
I struggle,
But I am with barriers fraught.

I knock,
But no one within answers.
I cry out,
But only the echo resounds.
I growl,
With the animal sound of panthers.
I echo,
And finally something rebounds.

The raven listens;
His instinct is to dare.
Friendly ghosts listen;
Their instinct is to scare.
Phantoms listen;
Their instinct lies in their flair.
The devil listens;
His instinct leads to despair.

Finally, a voice resounded,
From one person always awake.
I hear your soft entreaties;
I will never anyone forsake.
Knock once again on the door;
Rise up from the earth’s floor.
Enter the fold and abandon all fears;
I am the listener, the one who hears.