Words From A Listener
some of life in poetry
Confessions passed from your heart to mine,
Emotions, memories — now etched, almost intertwined.
That bitter burn, stories pushed to light,
Backwards, upstream — like sucking venom out from a bite.
Words escape me, gaping mouth goes dry,
Fears muted, heart muffled — my silence heard, your tears well.
As your hand grasps mine, grip packed with hope,
Comfort you, I must, but somehow without my voice.
You hug me tight, burden heavy touch.
Stammer, stutter — confide in me to escape this rut
I hold you close and you vent it out,
Lips tremble and tears trickle — lungs wail, emptiness sounds.
Your sorrows drain, pink returns to skin,
With fresh perspective gained, a shy smile tugs at your lips.
Fear dissolves, comfort takes over,
Though I only did nod, you needed only an ear.
We have friends that confide in us when times are tough. Amidst the turbulence, there are moments when a lecture can break the spirit. Retrospect right after a traumatic incident tends to feel like salt and dirt in the wound.
In those difficulties, we need to let them rest. Just simple company soothes when it is too early for balm. All they need is for some help to talk and for someone to listen.
Yet, there are moments when the listener is at a loss for words. Having no way to help is a draining feeling and the inability to comfort someone close is a scary thought.
Starting from the moments of helplessness to the gush of relief when you accept that your friend just needed your company. This piece is dedicated to the roller coaster of emotions that we feel as listeners.
(Tried a random 9–13–9–13 syllable to pour some form into it)
I want to thank Somsubhra Banerjee and Dennett just for how heart-warming my last few interactions with them have been.
Our brief exchanges have kept me motivated while I penned down my emotions and perspectives in the Year 2021.
