You Have to Be Careful
You have to be careful telling things.
Some ears are tunnels.
Your words will go in and get lost in the dark.
Some ears are flat pans like the miners used
looking for gold.
What you say will be washed out with the stones.
You look for a long time till you find the right ears.
Till then, there are birds and lamps to be spoken to,
a patient cloth rubbing shine in circles,
and the slow, gradually growing possibility
that when you find such ears
they already know.
~ Naomi Shihab Nye
my very last
for 2012 ...
warmest wishes for a wonderful new year.
Hi Christi, what lovely words, so poignant and a great photo. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteBonne et heureuse nouvelle année , meilleurs voeux de santé et bonheur pour 2013!
ReplyDeleteBises
Sacha
What a beautiful quote. Perhaps that's why I talk to myself so much *smile* - come to think of it I'm not sure that even I, talking to myself, am really listening!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the poem. I need to spend more time reading Naomi Shihab Nye's poetry, I always like everything that I've run across. Stay warm and Happy New year Christi!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful 2013 yourself Christi!
ReplyDeletex C
I agree, but perhaps also with the Russian poet Tyutchev:
ReplyDeletehttp://lib.ru/NABOKOW/silent.txt
Happy New Year, Christi!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBuster sends greetings too!
Christi. I have so enjoyed meeting you through your beautiful blog this year. Your photography inspires me. Happy new year
ReplyDelete-sus
Beautiful photo,beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by Nye for a long time... She's one of the best. Thanks for reminding me.