Summary: A reflection on listening as part of creative work: giving each voice a turn, leaving space for something new, and keeping a shared idea clear.

We left an empty chair beside the fire,
A place for something more than our desire.
The room was full of things we meant to say,
We let the quiet take the floor today.

A foot began to tap against the wood,
A small reply that somehow understood.
The tune could wait until the words were through,
And every pause could show a different view.

Leave a little space for me,
Like the shore beside the sea.
Let the last note fade away,
There is more than sound can say.

The violin put down its shining bow,
To hear the softer footsteps down below.
We did not need to hurry to be heard,
A patient ear could lift a simple word.

Leave a little space for me,
Like the shore beside the sea.
Let the last note fade away,
There is more than sound can say.

At dawn the empty chair was empty still,
The open place was ours to leave or fill.
We kept it there, a promise without strings,
A home for all the unexpected things.