I was inspired by Fran Haley yesterday to write a mirror section of her poem Listen. I started and ended with three of her words (in italics) and used her repeating word throughout. Thank you, Fran!
…Just to listen
thud of dogs diving, bed to floor
collar tags tingling, jingling
to greet the wee hour
awakening alarmless
listen
ticking toenails on wood floor,
traipsing to the water bowl
lapping, drinking beard-dripping droplets
returning to scratch the sheet by my cheek….take us outside!
listen
clicking of leashes (because…the coyotes)
crunch of frozen ground underfoot, trickling rush of fresh mountain springs
(not really – it’s Schnoodle pee pelting leaves of grass, but I can dream!)
listen
birds chirping start-of-day songs
delightful ditties
joy for the soul: Live! Breathe! Sing!
listen
heat clicking on, hot breath of house whispering warmth, clocking out soon as sun streams in for the day shift
listen
clatter of silverware clinking
kitchen kisses
love of my life swirling sugary creamer
to keep all bitterness at bay
silence, golden
dogs bedded back down
snuggled next to me on the sofa
snoozing, snoring securely after snacks
as I sit and write, thinking
how comforting it is
…..just to listen
Common Threads 
So many sweet phrases here. Keeping the bitterness at bay… and all the references to dog sounds are music to my ears.
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Your poem asks to be read aloud. The words dance on the tongue.
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Kim, I love this for so many reasons, beyond the delight that my lines gave some inspiration. The dogs and the love, their vital part in everyday life (how I love a dog and cannot imagine being without one). So vivid, the thuds and toenails. I live this. I heard and felt the frozen crunch as you described it, and the stream -!! Your sense of humor, priceless. The heat coming on and clocking out; the little sound of silverware clinking representing a world of meaning – that's what I was trying to get at with my poem, all the meaning in just listening. A celebration of being alive. Thank you for this beautiful rendering.
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I love when we inspire one another. Your images created such visuals for me. I was really seeing in addition to hearing!
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Oh my goodness, I just blasted out a hearty laugh at my stupidity. As I started into your poem, I kept returning to the line about “ticking toenails on the wood floor” and I thought to myself, “damn, if she's writing about herself she needs to clip them things” and then I realized as I read through the poem that you were writing about a dog. This is such a beautiful poem. I'm such an ignoramus.
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Pet sounds are the most comforting. I love quieting the house and listening to the sentient beings with whom I share space. Ken has to go for physical therapy three times a week, so I’ve been enjoying the absence of machine sounds. I might need to try a version of a listening poem, but w/a little twist. Your pups are more polite w/ their scratching of sheets. We get a cacophony of barks.
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Great to ‘hear’ your morning! Your writing is so descriptive, I am right there with you.
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