Listening

A 12 Minute Free-Write by Daryl Thompson

I remember listening to my grandmother tell stories of the family back in Poland

I remember listening to my mom tell me about growing up in Montreal and how cold she was

I remember listening for my infant son’s sounds of his breath just to be sure he was alive

I listened to everyone when I was 8

I remember my father looking so strong and handsome and listening to him sing along to the Beatles album when it first came out

I remember listening to him call me a fag when I told him he had a beautiful voice

I remember listening to music as a teenager, very high on weed

I listened to it loud

I should have listened to my mom more often, she was almost always right I didn’t listen to any one

I always listened to the wrong people

I remember my friends telling me to listen to them, that I’m spiraling out of control

Not long after I remember listening to the sounds of screaming as some guy was being beaten in the cell next to me

I remember I remember being so sure they were wrong, why didn’t I listen

I remember Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere

I remember Listen to story of a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer that kept his family fed

Why don’t I remember listening to others who really cared about me

I should have listened to someone

I didn’t listen to any one

I listen now. And now I hear.