I can't hear you

Or really
I just don't want to hear you

I don't want to hear that you
Need to take a break
Need water
Need to pee
Need a vegetable

I don't want to hear
The feelings
The discomfort
The pain

And sometimes
I can't even hear you at all

Through the noise
Of other people's needs
Of the busy-ness of my day

I can't hear you because
No one taught me
To slow down
To tune in
To pay attention to you

That in fact
I am inhabiting
My wisest teacher of all

And that you are worth listening to.

~Nina Manolson
NinaManolson.com