"Are You ...Here?..."

Think on it BEFORE you answer facetiously just what I asked...

“Are You …Here?...”

 

Too many People define listening by

- their own heart's bleating

- their own laughter, their own tears

- their own needs, wants, dreams and desires

- their own fears

 

Listening is less-self

and more-aware.

 

Life is the crowd that takes us

shapes us, masks us

‘til we hide from our selves

using the noise and distractions

and the seeming belonging - all

to think we’re being PART OF

...more...

than what we have.

 

Comes a time life envelops us

tightens and tightens …happens,

squeezes and presses until

masks fall away

and often - frightened eyes glisten

and widen and freak and

unfocus and fade and wither

as the mind within - can't deal

with their now.

 

But …but… sometimes, eyes - so aware

so very, very aware - touch,

focus, lock... and the mind really

…really… understands

...being noticed.

And then what begins?

Where do dreams start and realities fade?

 

Are you here watching

from the pixels as

my fingertips wander my lip's whispers

of thoughts felt within?

 

I do hear our echoes

and feel voices' shimmers

of moments remembered

and targeted pauses

whose tastes and smiles

were my silly lil reaches

made toward starlight

as silent nights wove

fingertips' wish-full dreams.

 

 

“Are You …Here?…”

 

I’ve an image behind my eyes

 

Head just so -

soft, glistening, aware eyes

warm face - framed

by flowing hinted-at highlights

whose strands weave and dance

while lips - just parted with life’s curve -

teasingly moist… draw… me.

Breathes...

Chris

Author's Note

feel free

and there are no typos or unintended words.

Reviews

[Isabel25]

Oh, this is somewhat on similar lines to something I wrote recently...but your work seems to have closure while mine doesn't. I wonder if people really want life to squeeze off their masks...and what would happen if no pair of aware-eyes are there to watch us when we finally remove them?

[Chris]

seems to me so many dream of their fear til it embraces them as the only truth and then they don't even look in any other's eyes at all.

[J. J. Nightingale]

People travel in and out of our realities
Knowing only little fragments ..of us
Sometimes some one, pauses
For our causes ..
but
Most times, for THEIR own causes..
Reaching is only REAL, if it lifts us UP.

Pardon Me....I tend to ramble ...

Peace ... I Love your words... Jazz

[Chris]

Always appreciated Jazz...

[J. J. Nightingale]

:)......................................... ♥ ..

[J. J. Nightingale]

did a little edit.........................

[Lyn Anderson]

Many people sit and wait for the other to be finished before they launch in -- they haven't listened, just paused, and if I said I were not guilty of said behaviour, I am, on many an occasion -- usually when it has something to do with something I have already made my mind up over, and I feel the others' point is moot. That said I should erase everything I just wrote, and wrap myself in the message of listening, and being present, in the moment.

[Chris]

You ARE more there when you are - than when you aren't.

[annalysiar]

I like the depth of this poem. The message and that question: are you here?
deep and gratifying.

[Chris]

I hope you find you want to return and share more thoughts... you left thoughtful noseprints on the glass...

[annalysiar]

And so ponder the thoughts, for they are ones own.
as I am not the only one to leave nose prints.
one might want to rethink advice given

[Chris]

seems we find our own meanings in what we perceive... I listen to others' perceptions as I find my own.

[annalysiar]

As you are not the only one

[Chris]

some spend their "listening" thinking on their "answering" and never hear neither what they thought NOR what was said.

[annalysiar]

Hence the nose prints...

[Chris]

Interesting thing about the net... people forget screens - like most windows (pun intended) - are more than one-way

[annalysiar]

I dare to wonder. Should this pun be directed to people or myself.
as the windows of life, like the windows of the net, so easily forgotten...
even when fleeting moments become distraught.
I cannot presume to know more than one who is wise, but try to learn and imply

[Chris]

There are Windows upon Windows, and windows upon windows... and windows into and facing out. Each has its parameters, use, understandings, needs, and grace. The pun is in the understandings of all the perceptions NOT in the person understanding their own perceptions.

[annalysiar]

Windows upon windows upon windows. I like that. Is accurate

[Chris]

and still a pun - intended

[annalysiar]

Is a truism. For some odd reason I think of doors

[Chris]

They ARE doors of a sort

[annalysiar]

This is true but a door can close both ways as a window cannot

[Renée]

I listened.. you reeled me in like fish..and I smile..
Lovely

[Deviant Works]

Oh, Chris... This is purely magical! In many ways I have thought on these same things. Listening versus being truly aware. Gosh... There were several lines that just took my breath away. I must refer to this because I will never forget these words... 'But...but... sometimes, eyes - so aware... so very, very aware - touch... focus, lock... and the mind really... really... understands... being noticed.' My goodness, Chris. I can hardly repeat them without needing a box of tissue. This entire piece is moving from start to finish. I am HERE! So very here. Thank you so much for sharing this splendid work of art!

[Chris]

I'm glad you paused and found the heart.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Truth be known, your question requires no answer if the answer is yes. An answer of silence is a resounding 'YES!'

Breathes ...

I breathe every minute of every day and never give a second thought to it. I just breathe. I had my yearly physical yesterday. The doctor took out her stethoscope and placed it on different areas of my chest and back and asked me to breathe in and breathe out. All of a sudden, I had to think about doing what I've always done without ever having to think about it. LOL! I was consciously aware of every single breathe. Every year when I have my physical, I just always find it so strange. I know she's listening for any abnormalities, but I think it's abnormal that she's seeking something wrong in what always seems so natural. It's not really what she's doing, it's just that I'm made aware of what I'm doing, that I have always done, without a second thought. It's the sudden awareness of what we take for granted. The awareness of breath that makes us live. The awareness of being that we neglect.

We just need to stop the noise and get out of our own way.

As always, your words caused a pause.

[Chris]

It IS good seeing you here...

[613]

This was well written. I connected to this piece a great deal. Great work!

- Brittney

[Chris]

Welcome to this place... I'm glad you found reason to pause with my thoughts.

[613]

Thanks! I look forward to reading more of your works.

[Chris]

There are an overflow of mine here within the bounds of the site... and you're welcome to explore at whim.

[613]

Sure thing!

[Ana B.]

sheer beauty and wisdom...this one struck a chord....i wonder where is this ''here''....

[Beccy]

Perhaps then, it is only uncertainty that gives us pause.