Undistracted Attention Given Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Active listening requires and takes,
Undistracted attention given.
And an accustomed discipline,
For comprehension that begins.
Without interrupting who speaks,
Before or during...
A point to make heard,
Others have had no problem to hear.
The ones standing to applaud.
As a few sit to cheer.

Although,
Many will throw such a courtesy to give...
Out of the nearest window.
Where their respect for others reside.
Making it known and shown that a listening,
Has not been a lesson to have prioritized.

With it then to hear them say and mean,
What had been said by another...
Is not understood and needs clarity.
Hoping who speaks repeat what they've said.
Instead of asking what it was not to hear,
Made clearer to understand.
And...
If they should start from the beginning.
Or wait until the standing ovation ends.

"Uh...
No.
I...uh,
Just wanted to know...
Where your emphasis was placed.
In the speech you gave.
Had it been before or after,
Your profound delivery...
Attempted to manipulate,
The importance of my own thoughts."