Depending on where in the world you’re listening from, there’s a good chance you’ll have come across this poem during your schooldays. Certainly, for people in Ireland where I am, and in the UK and America, Walter De La Mare’s The Listeners seems to have found a place on a lot of school curriculums.

It’s easy to see why. Much of the poetry that is stuffed down children’s throats is the equivalent of broccoli. We believe this is good for you, but we know it doesn’t feel good.

The Listeners is different. From the very first words of the very first time you read it—especially, I think, if the reader is a child—there’s something that gets under the skin.

If we need stories to make sense of the world, then mystery is one of the most cherished forms of story.

The Listeners is a total mystery, and like the best mysteries, it’s one that can never be solved, because to solve a mystery immediately takes all the mystery away.

Who are the listeners? Why do they stay silent? Who is the traveller? Why is he knocking? What promise is he keeping?

The poem takes us there, to that house in the forest. It gives us what we need through all our senses: the sights, the shadows, the sounds, the echoes, the silence.

If this is your first time with this poem, enjoy. I believe it will stay with you long after the plunging hoofs have gone quiet.

You can read the poem here. And I also recommend this reading on YouTube, which is set to the gorgeous music “The Lark Ascending” by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams

For a detailed outline of the mission and purpose behind this podcast, please check out Episode 100, "Why Poems for the Speed of Life?", in your podcast player or ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here to listen on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Music Credit:

Once Upon a Time by Alex-Productions | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onsound.eu/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  | Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com