Listening to the Sound

Poem and photography by Pearl Roycroft

I am listening to the sound.

I am listening 

to the laughing kookaburras up the tree

to the wind blowing down the chimney 

to the piano which is out of tune 

to the possum crawling in the roof 

to the bubbling of slow cooked beef stew 

to the swaying clothes on the line 

to my client who’s having a hard time 

to the chicken scratching a place to sleep 

to my loose fan belt starting to screech

I am listening 

to the tear hidden in her eye

to the smoke rising in the sky 

to the tomatoes that are almost ripe 

to the child showing me her favourite paint 

to my bible bookmarked at the same page 

to the coffee beans running low

to the family business that’s going slow 

to the couple in love down at the beach 

to my ageing grandparents overseas

I am listening 

to the ducklings swimming in my pool 

to the sunflowers in their final bloom

to the friend whose birthday is coming soon 

to the rising electricity bill 

to the larger jeans I can fill 

to the dishes piling up by the sink 

to my boss whose health is on the brink 

to another friend who’s bought a house 

to their ideas on where to meet a spouse

But most of all, I find it hard to listen to me.

—--------------

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”

Pearl Roycroft—Regular Contributor

A gardener by morning, napper by afternoon and hostess by night, Pearl considers herself the luckiest girl in the world. She is a cacao enthusiast from the Perth Hills, who lives with a pet bird, a close sister and many trees. Pearl has travelled to unique places around the globe and across the country in her red van, which you can read about at Pen and Paper. For love, she makes music. Check out her album Closing Doors on Bandcamp.