As I sit at church
My pastors’ words begin to wash past me
and in the corner of my mind
I begin to wonder –
Are you listening
Person to my right?
You look as if you are planning the rest of your day.
Eyes rolled upward
lips speaking silently; sorting thoughts.
Are you being genuine
Girl in the front row?
Eyes closed, arms raised –
trying to impress the pastor’s son?
I stand, I sing
I sit and pray in silence,
not crying aloud to our Lord
not the loudest in worship.
Blending into the congregation
I find my haven –
my chance to find heaven
personal space
no distraction from girl in front row.
Are you being genuine?
Person to my left
thinks about me as I sit
more quietly than the rest
seemingly self-isolated;
‘Isn’t connecting.’
We all judge
what we do not understand.
Person to my left
Doesn’t know that I hear God
when it’s quiet –
But I don’t understand
That girl in front row
Is being genuine –
She expresses her love best aloud.
And I also don’t know
That person to my right
is just like me.
But I don’t want to know –
I’m too comfortable
with my stereotypes
When I really should be listening.
Danielle Guscott
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/was-i-listening/
