But I cannot

Just be still and listen

Because my world is burning

Away before me

And I must put out the fire;

Because I have something to say,

Something you need to hear,

And I don’t want to be silenced.

 

I’d never ask you to

Just be still and listen

What if you have something urgent to do?

What if you have something vital to tell?

Your silence does not always serve.

 

Get up if you need to,

Look around if you want to.

You don’t need to keep your eyes on mine;

My people find that disrespectful.

 

Go ahead and talk when I talk;

I can still hear your words.

My people learned long ago how to

Listen and talk simultaneously.

 

I don’t hear anger or hate

In loud voices.

Sometimes my people just have to shout,

To voice the sacred in the words,

The miracles on the tongue;

Sometimes we just want to hear the church say,

“Amen!”