Listen

Listen.

Really listen

to mother coyote

at midnight

and you'll stay awake

forever.

Stand still, not far

from the bird feeder

eavesdropping on gossip

of nuthatch and titmouse,

finch and pine siskin.

This is all 

the morning news 

you need.

In the evening

when you hear Jesus

weeping in the garden,

stay awhile.

Don't ask, "What's wrong?"

Never ask anybody

that.

He'll just answer, "Oh,

it's nothing."

True poverty is resting

without words.

You think he is grieving

about tomorrow?

Really listen.

There is never

another day.

His tears are for the beauty

of silence, the soft 

abundance of the dark, 

and in the midst of all 

our sorrows, the gift

of this breath.


Photo: Cornell Lab, All About Birds