Still Listening

i listened to my elders

i listened to my peers

i listened to the square heads

i listened to the queers

i listened to the madmen

i listened to the sane

if i ever missed something said

i listened once again

i listened to junkies lost in themselves

i listened to the clean and found

i listened to the many steps

of cures and hopes abound

i listened from the lofty heights

i listened from the gutter

i listened to many an elegant speech

and to an insignificant mutter

i listened to both left and right

the ups and down as well

i listened to the ocean once

she had a nautical tale to tell

i listened in the still of the night

i listened during the day

i listened to pretty much anyone

who had anything to say

never having much to say myself

i sat there, content to hear

i listened and i watched as well

to anything that was near