Reflections Finalists 2021-2022 Literature - Middle

My poem, titled "Heartful Listening," relates to the theme "I can change the world by…" because it describes how I can change the world by using heartful listening. It includes my perspective on what heartful listening is, it's properties and effects, and, most importantly, how it will change the world. The full experience of the poem is reaped when read slowly.

People often think that, to change the world, they need to change it physically. Not necessarily. In my literature, I have tried to explain how I felt when I was allowed to take a cut in line by a stranger. I was simply shut off when it was my turn for billing at the counter. I thanked the lady but felt so good that I knew I had to pass what I received. My simple helping hand made someone else’s day. That person carrying it forward and continued the chain. That’s when I felt kindness can indeed change the world.

Because to me, change is more complicated than it seems, I wanted to write about the effort it takes to make it happen - the why, rather than the how. The theme itself is pretty broad, so I wanted to focus on the mental/emotional parts.