Listening

What is it with our ears
that we hear what was not said?
Is it because we speak between the lines?
Or does the interference pattern of our words
reveal the structure of our intent
silhouetted with invisible light?
We keenly guess at shadows
more often right than not
but the occasional stumble
makes us cry for
the literal interpretation.

What you heard is not what I meant.
What I meant is not what you heard.

And yet,
what a stark, blind world it would be
if we did not try
to see between
the simple words.

-- Kathryn A