Heard It All...

They talk about music
or what passes for it

They've heard it all
 all the singles
 all the albums
 every band
old and new
On the radio
On CD
On Vinyl
On stage

They mention them all,
confirm they've heard,
mention others,
etc, etc, etc...
They announce passively
what they are waiting to hear
once it's released
Band after band
album after album
they have heard it all
or soon will

I can't help but hear them
I can't help but wonder
Have they ever listened, or only heard?
Hearing is an impersonal exposure
  with awareness of sound
Listening is a personal engagement
  in awe of the sound

I hear them go on,
and on,
& on...
Saying nothing of their engagements
to what their ears have discovered
Nothing is personal
Nothing resounds
  in the sound of their voices
  on the sound of the songs

But it's almost impossible to listen
For me to them
For them perhaps to anything
We've all heard it all before
Will we go on to listen?
  -for something new
  -for something else
  -for anything at all

I keep my ears open
and remain quiet
patiently waiting
for something
 a voice
 a song
 a sound
for my ears to listen
for my soul to more than hear

When I hear it
my voice will be full
 of words to praise
 or silent reverence
And if other ears are there
they may hear my
 rhetoric or reticence
and maybe some will listen
and maybe I will too
or no one will hear at all
as they've heard it all before