It's a matter of listening

A poem for your Tuesday

It’s a matter of listening

To the cardinal’s song in the rainfall

To the hum of the thousands of drops dancing on the windows

To the tires of passing cars fading in and out on the wet pavement

To the breath in your lungs that comes and leaves without trying

To your body that already knows the answers

To the warnings it spells out for you, without regard of your unwillingness to hear it

To the arrows of your emotions, pointing to the treasure underneath

To the wind rustling the early leaves

To the plane overhead chalking the sky

To the neighbor kid shooting hoops in the drive

Bounce, bounce, bounce… like the thoughts in your head

To Aretha Franklin singing “R.E.S.P.E.C.T”

To the attitude of the brass instruments proving the point

To the noise of the world, just long enough to notice you could turn it off

To the ones who love you and only want the best for you

To the still small voice inside your soul that knows what to do

Especially to the part of you that is afraid

The fear is always telling you something else

To yourself: the one who is listening

To the goosebumps on your neck

To the unrelenting tap of your foot

To the gut feelings that watch over you like guardian angels

To the thunderous autonomy you have always deserved

To the kick drum pulse in your ears that gives you gumption

To the intuition you couldn’t run from if you tried

With a grateful heart, it’s all yours.