Sense of Hearing

I remember echoically. 

Hold syllables. Yours then mine. I mine

What I heard. I herd the blend of hurts.

You claim to retain each page you've seen,

and cleverly play down this ability, say

it has passed for brilliance by those

authorized to know. You are accustomed

to being believed. And fail to listen in favor of 

declaring.  People routinely let this go.

At the table stories interrupted by someone pouring water 

routinely die. You do not ask the speaker

to restart the conversation. You fail to notice. Move on 

and forget what has been said. Tell me: is it difficult 

ignoring those you claim to love most as if country 

cousins unlikely to advance your career?