A group's talking, many
voices interlaced,
a lattice-work of gab--
then all talk suddenly
stops, as if timed: it's
said "an angel just passed
over," and people laugh,
and then buzzing chat
begins again, builds. Yes:
the Angel of Listening. An
angel of thought, ego retracted
like a cat's claw, minds open
like a veranda on a cottage
near a warm sea. If you can,
come by here more often, Angel.
Help us quiet down, and listen,
and let good thoughts, fresh
ideas, breeze in to mix with
our thinking, refurbish knowing.
hans ostrom 2022
