Hear or Listen?

I can tell by your face

whether you hear my words only

or are listening to my heart.

You may hear me

when your thoughts drift

to business or play,

but you listen

when my words are as water to you

when you are dry and fuzzy-tongued.

Listen as a deaf person,

when even a blink will cause you

to miss an important word,

and I’ll slice my soul open for you.

But, offer me solutions,

and I know you have only heard.

Move your face in harmony with my thoughts,

and we have touched.

Glance through the mail,

catch up on the day’s headlines,

then you have built a stone wall between us

where contact is impossible.

Keep your eyes on mine,

and your hands in mine,

and we will dance together

to music others can never enjoy.