listen.

Location

people often ask me

"why are you so quiet?"

I laugh softly. 

my mind is not a quiet place

 

I learn more from listening 

than anyone has ever learned 

from proclamations and empty speeches.

In my own silence I learn

 

noting the inflection of her voice when she says

"no, I'm fine."

hearing how he never, ever shuts up and all his words are wrong

but no one corrects him.

 

I'd rather not be one of those people

shouting things they don't know,

making guesses about themselves

and their feelings.

 

so I perch, still, learning,

while others stumble about.

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