Listen

A poem for human animals

If you want to know how the world is doing—listen to the breath of poets, musicians, artists, dancers, writers and crafters. Listen to the movement of animals as they bat their wings, press hooves, paws, claws and bellies into the soft soil—precious bodies gliding through the fallen leaves. Listen to the trees swaying and creaking in the wind, grass bending in the breeze, rain falling on the petals of a flower. Listen to the roar of the ocean, the cry of seagulls dipping their wings into salty water, while fish swim quietly below. If you cannot hear a sound, you know it is time to mourn.