Listen

Take a few moments, nay, take an hour,
To be silent for a time, and Listen.

Let in the sounds you never normally notice.
The traffic rattling past, the rumble beneath your feet,
The bump of a door, the crash of glass, the bang of a bin lid,
The whirr of an aeroplane, the hum of wires,
The clopping of shoes, the bark of dogs,
The countless voices in joy, anger, surprise, monotony.
The seeming chaos, but a constant pulse,
The beating heart of the busy city.
Listen.

The song of birds high up in the trees,
The bleating of sheep in distant fields,
The wind whipping through a valley,
The gentle shushing of leaves in a breeze,
The burble of a rocky stream,
The rattle of dislodged stones,
The rustle of a blackbird in a hedgerow,
The splatter of rain on hard earth,
The squawk of a raven in the air,
The buzz of insects in the grass.
The gentle sounds of a hard-fought life,
The constant breath of the countryside.
Listen.

Now open your mind as well as your ears,
Open your heart to the sounds that make no noise.
Listen for the wailing hidden deep within.
Listen for what is meant, more than what is said.
Listen for the plea that will never surface.
Listen for the crying of the earth.
Listen for the tears of creation.
Listen for what you can give.
Listen for the thanks that is unspoken.
Listen for the song behind the smile.

For once, for now and in every moment,
Stop, take heed, and Listen.