David Ignatow

Here you will find the Poem Listening of poet David Ignatow

Listening

You wept in your mother's arms 
and I knew that from then on 
I was to forget myself. 


Listening to your sobs, 
I was resolved against my will 
to do well by us 
and so I said, without thinking, 
in great panic, To do wrong 
in one's own judgment, 
though others thrive by it, 
is the right road to blessedness. 
Not to submit to error 
is in itself wrong 
and pride. 


Standing beside you, 
I took an oath 
to make your life simpler 
by complicating mine 
and what I always thought 
would happen did: 
I was lifted up in joy.