Listen To Me - a poem
When studying for my Counselling Diploma (c. 2014) one of our tutors shared this poem with us.
We read it out loud and tears flowed. It has stayed close to me ever since.
The author is unknown - please tell me if you know who wrote this so I can credit them!
I hope you find the words as useful as I have done over the years.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk to you;
Give me only a few minutes.
Accept what I experience, what I feel,
Without reserve, without judgement.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Do not bombard me with questions, advice and opinions.
Do not feel obliged to settle my difficulties;
Could it be that you lack confidence in my competence?
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Do not try to entertain or amuse me,
It would make me think you fail to understand the importance
Of what I am going through.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Do not feel it your duty to approve.
If I need to tell my story
It is simply to be set free.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Do not interpret and try not to analyse.
I would feel misunderstood and manipulated,
And could no longer tell you anything.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Do not interrupt me to question me.
Do not attempt to force me to reveal what is hidden,
I know how far I can and will go.
Listen to me, please, I need to talk;
Respect the silences which help me make progress.
Be very careful not to break them;
It is often through them that things are clarified.
So now that you have let me have my say,
I beg you, now you may speak;
Attentive and at your disposal,
I, in my turn, will listen to you.​