Do You Hear Me?

Listen,

I’m trying to share something important.

Have you heard what I'm saying?

Listen,

You're looking at your phone

Yelling at the dog

Changing the channel.

Listen,

I had a story to share but never finished.

Someone interrupted,

Another person responded,

Someone else started talking,

And the conversation took another flight.

But I'm still here.

With my words pressing to come out.

Listen,

I'm not asking for advice.

I want to tell you something,

To speak

To be heard

To matter.

I'm not sharing my story for

A debate

A quick fix

A solution.

I want to be heard.

Listen,

Please stop and look at me.

You've become distracted by a

Movement

A color

A ping, chirp, buzz.

Or your own need to tell me your experience

Your story

But I need to finish mine.

Listen,

Listen,

Hear my words

See my facial expressions

Let my words sink in

And settle

Before responding.

Listen,

Together we'll understand,

Discover

Learn

Grow

Love.

Later,

I'll listen to you.

I promise.