The Day I Sat and Listened

'twas but an hour before dusk

In August, when the days were just hot and enough but the nights could be chilly 

I sat and listened

It was a day I worked surrounded by children who never spoke a word worth hearing but were never quiet

So I sat and listened

The birds were gone as the children had scared them away, and the ones who didn't follow me sat building castles from the dry sand, and it glowed between their fingers as inspiration took hold

So I took a lantern and walked to the edge of the beach

There I sat and listened

Before I closed my eyes, I saw the sun set between a Ferris wheel and clouds, and as quickly as I blinked the world grew dark

This was when I decided to sit and listen

The children circled my lantern and questioned my meditation preparations. So I invited them to join

And they did, some involved some restless. All the same save one boy. I could see in his eyes, he knew what true inner peace was. 

I grew jealous of the boy, and hoping to aspire to what he had achieved, I sat and listened to him 

But I realized I was sore so I stretched. 

I did simple exercises, called it tai chi, and the children soon followed

Then, I sat and listened 

And I heard it call me

The silence 

I heard her sweet voice over the oceans crashing waves, and as the salty air filled my lungs to the brim I called back

As I heard the silence, she heard me. 

In that moment. It was silent

And the moment never ended

I'm still sitting on that beach. Listening.

Waiting for the silence to end. 

And I pray it lasts forever.