The Sand Hill Review               http://www.sandhillreview.org 2009

Listening to Silence

for Gary Snyder

Cupping one hand around one ear

walking in circles around mountains

and rivers without end, also

rocks trees telephone poles

Listening to silence pulse beating in ear

far-away rustling like the sea

like one far-away voice crying

"Can you hear me

Now? Can you hear me now?"

No one can hear how

can anyone hear

here I am,

Speak speak to me speak your name

to the nimbus butterflies wind currents

current conditions permitting

whether permitting

or forbidding. Allen has a permit expiring and no license

to continue trying to tell me where what number

who when to be Garrulous oh his

mantra of can can can you.

Picnic table manzanita brush lunch of bread

and cheese listening to brook smooth stones

in the mouth of the brook mantra

of can can beer bottle

Spin the bottle walk around the mouth

saying you hear you here

me here now we are together

listening to silence here now.

Eve Sutton