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Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of A poem a day, gives my heart its say
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Published:
2026-08-05
Words:
107
Chapters:
1/1
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1
Bookmarks:
1
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19

Show me you're listening

Summary:

"So yeah! That was it! I can't believe that happened mama!" I place my hands down to rest on my lap. Giddiness tickles my soul. I've been dying all day to tell her what happened at school.

". . ."

Quiet sounds fill the silence, out of curiosity I look and find that it's coming from her phone. My eyes finally land on hers. She's not looking at me.

A lump forms on my throat. I hold back my tears. This shouldn't be something I should cry about. It'll only worsen her mood. "Mama?" My voice cracks.

No verbal response—just a nod. My tongue feels heavy anyway. I stop speaking.

A poem based off a pattern I've noticed whenever I talk to my mom and she has her phone with her.

Notes:

To my mom, whom I love dearly.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

When you talk, I listen

intently, keenly, earnestly

Though sometimes my mind flies

and my mouth responds too eagerly

 

Through many apologies

I correct myself

Then I listen again 

 

When I talk, you nod your head

I wait for your response

yet that never comes

and my mouth keeps quiet

 

Through silence

I understand

Then I stop talking

 

In the quiet

I gaze at you

and I begin to wonder

 

If I were to spill my deepest secrets at this very moment

Would you hear me?

Would you spare a glance?

Or in the end

you'll just nod your head

and leave me on a loose end

Notes:

I'm eager to share lots of things with my mom. However, when she has her phone with her while we talk, I tend to notice that she doesn't pay attention. There would be moments where I'd stop speaking so she could respond but then I'll look at her and she's not looking at me.

She doesn't do this all the time, but it's happening so frequently now that I think I'm starting to lose that eagerness to talk to her.

I love her, I just wish she'd look at me while I'm speaking.

--

Okay, unrelated to the poem (not really), I wrote this with a timer because I know myself and I know I overthink my words too much. But I think because of that there are parts of the poem that are too clunky. At least I know what to improve C:

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