Listening Is Talking
by John Herlihy
For some, talking is all about talking,
With very little time for listening.
Some people only pretend to listen,
What they really want to do is talk.
Some people don't like to talk,
Other people don't like to listen.
For me, I am not a talker,
I prefer to simply listen.
I listen and listen and listen,
Everyone I meet ready to talk.
I hear all of what is said,
I hear more than what is said.
I don’t have to do any talking,
All I have to do is listen.
No need to reveal myself,
I just keep silent instead.
Listen to the falling snow
As you listen to the falling rain
Listen to the overture of dawn
As you listen to the dirge of dusk,
Until listening more than listening,
The listening has become talking.
My listening tells others I am there,
Like a priest, my listening as prayer.
By listening, they know I sympathize,
They can speak freely they realize.
To talk can never be listening,
But listening finds ways to talk.
After all the listening
There’s room for a few words
Listening, talking, tweeting
The wisdom of ancient birds
Listening to the myriad voices of nature
Listening to the rivers and streams
Since silence speaks, so too does listening
And what is it that listening says: Speak!
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Copyright ©John Herlihy
Thursday 30 October 2025
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Rebecca
I recall listening to my elders when they were neglected. I always let others talk before I did. Tried to be brief in my response.
Lately, I've been attending Zoom sessions. Some people, overly nervous, become what I call , motormouths. Often repeating over and over the same thing, afraid to stop talking and lose the podium. Others never talk at all, like ghosts in the background. Like readers who never comment.
Ron