I had forgotten to read. Not how to—to.
It was a time of deep personal vexation
was what I told myself. I checked my phone.
Typed madly at my laptop. I’d
forgotten to listen, not completely
but deeply—to my children, friends, ex-wife.
Her friends, my pastor, our neighbors.
I couldn’t hear anything, and now I’m learning
to read and to hear again, and to that end
I did Walgreens’ buy-one-get-one reading glasses
deal. Somehow during those fast years
I’d also forgotten how to see. Not totally
but up close, and that’s just what I need now—
to learn to be close again and know what’s there.
• • •
Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Thank you for this poem. May I borrow a few lines for my Lenten confession? Promise my priest won’t repeat anything. I think there’s a rule against it, or something.
Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Yes of course! Would you send me the whole confession when you’re finished writing it?