Wednesdays on One Poem Only are a double feature: one poem here on the podcast, and one more by the same poet shared on Instagram.

You’ll Hear MusicChandra Tyler Mountain

This poem is included in the 2024-25 Stafford Challenge Anthology.

If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the quiet humming,pulses and surges of electricity,moving through uswith light and energy.
If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the windwhistling softly, making its way through,carrying seeds of hopefor a tomorrow that will surely come.
If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the stately elms and oaksplanning for a winterof full exposure:cold days, stark nights.
If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the private chirpsof the feathered ones who remainto brave the winter and feast on songs of insectsburied deep in the cold, hard earth.
If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the laughter of childrenfrolicking in the last remaining days of sunbefore the arctic breeze pushes us behind closed doorsto seek other sources of warmth.
If you listen closely—you’ll hear the music in the beating of your own heartin tune with blessing and grief,singing back to you:all is well; all is well.

More from Chandra Tyler Mountain ↓

1. @musings.from.my.grown.self on Instagram
2. Her books, Sacred Water: Scripture Haiku for Those Who Thirst, and Musings from My Younger Self, are available now.

Watch the Second Poem

You can watch and listen to Abandoned by Chandra as part of our Wednesday double feature on Instagram at @rembrandts.cure.

Support + Stay Connected to OPO

If you’d like to support the show, Substack and Patreon members receive a copy of my book, For My Daughter, along with episodes from the audiobook.

Two poems. One poet. Let the words keep moving.