You wonder why I’ve been quiet, and I’ll tell you.
Have you ever heard the birds whisper to one another in the hanging morning air, their voices thick and heavy as the dawn, preparing each other for the great ritual of life?
Have you ever heard the heater rumble and the house yawn itself awake as someone makes coffee two rooms away, have you ever listened to a person make their existence more enjoyable?
Have you ever listened to the dogma of another, and have you ever been moved by what you heard?
Have you ever listened to the ocean as it keens and pants and rails against the cloud-swollen sky, have you ever heard its mourning fingers weave themselves with the voice of a dear one?
Have you ever slid your hand beneath your shirt and listened through your palm as your body tells itself you’re alive?
Have you ever heard speak that which has no voice? Have you ever truly listened?
author’s note:
this is okay, but i wanted something to go out on. i’m gonna be taking a break from substack, i’m not sure how long for but i’m tired of always needing to commodify my words. i’ll be back eventually, maybe in a week, maybe never. i’ll continue reading all of your lovely essays in my inbox, but my engagement will be little to none.
so long!
take care, quinn. you are loved.