the art of … listening

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 25 Jan 2019
  • 2387 reads
9 comments
 

The art of compromise must gain
more insight if their views remain
to you confusing, puzzling, or
they’re in a corner, can’t shift more
unless you find a way of ease
to both move round, and things that please
can take more prominence than what
you neither can agree about,
and can’t convince by fact or shout;
but first and foremost you must hear
correctly, so that all is clear
to truly see what is most dear
to them, and never mock or jeer:
    negotiating must begin
    with silent, patient listening.

[IP: the art of compromise]

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Poem
Miscellaneous
Philosophy
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

well said!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks for cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

wow! Rhiannon! How on earth do you rhyme such sensible things and it doesn't sound like you are even trying?

Makes me think of the queen rapping at the WI :0)

these advice poems would make a great book

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Di! I do try to make rhyme a servant to impact and flow, and to be as unobtrusive as possible, and it does seem to help the meaning to be thought about if the flow is easy to read and compact. Sometimes short things go through quite a string of changes before they seem right! And thinking about the form and rhymes often leads to better thought about the content and the clarity of what I'm meaning. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Morkath on

Splendid poem. It really makes you think! The ending is my favourite part, I stayed on those two lines for a while. 

negotiating must begin
    with silent, patient listening.

A profound reminder that listening is done quietly. We shouldn't rush to respond with our own ideas.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Morkath, yes, that was what I wanted to particularly emphasise – real listening that is'nt just waiting to jump in, has to be 'worked at', learned. Sometimes something is said you want to respond to, and you can miss the other things being said as you concentrate on your response to that first thing, and also don't give enough time to think about correctly understanding even that one thing!.

Welcome to ABC, I'll get to read you post before long. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by SoulFire77 on

I enjoyed this very much. I have often thought that Alexa and Siri should randomly give lessons in political discourse, since they are the only two "people" that young folks seem to listen to anymore.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. I had to check who Alexa and Siri were/are! And then realised it's what one of my sons does when he asks Google questions etc! Rhiannon