Eye to Eye

By John Simon

 I stared deeply into her eyes -- She stared deeply into mine.
But I could never get inside her -- I could never be her mind.
And she could never get inside me -- She could never read my thoughts.
Yet we learned about each other in a way that's
     seldom taught.

I shared deeply into his eyes -- He shared deeply into mine.
But I could never get inside him -- I could never be his mind.
And he could never get inside me -- He could never read my thoughts.
But we became one in spirit in a way that is seldom sought.

And though I could never get inside her and never be
     her mind.
For an instant we became one, the two left far behind.
And sometimes there was laughter and sometimes
     there were tears.
And we could not tell whose tears they were --
     The boundaries were unclear.

And though he could never get inside me and never read
     my thoughts.
He got just exactly who I was and the wonder that
     I brought.
And sometimes there was love and sometimes
     there was fear.
And we could not tell whose fears they were --
     The boundaries were unclear.

When I am truly present for another, I recreate their being.
I let them know they are not alone --
     I reflect to them their meaning.
When I can really be there for another lonely friend.
I can give them wholeness, peace, and love so
     their wounds from life can mend.

If I am walking in a crowd and with no others eyes I meet.
I get no sense that I am really there,
     since ther's no one there to greet.
I feel alone and disconnected from the universe at large.
I struggle with the universe because I want to be in charge.
I can not see that the shape I'm in is the perfect
     shape to be.
To complete the puzzle "Universe" -- to join it and be free.

But if in walking down that same street with
anothers
     eyes I meet.
And if their look is friendly and with smiling lips they greet.
Then I feel wonderfully alive and connected to the
     universal plan.
I am a unique part of its structure. I am that part known
     as man.

When I listen to another in a way that lets them
     know they're heard.
I do so not to understand, but to reflect their every word.
So I will be present for another like a perfectly
     silvered mirror.
And reflect to them their greatness in a way uniquely clear.
I will listen for another like a sponge that absorbs
     whatever's there.
And never filter out a thing they've honored me to share.
I will be present for another like a tape, recording
     what's precisely so.
And I will play them back themselves and empower
     each to grow.

So when we listen to another, keep in mind this
     simple thought
We need to listen for the others being, and not to the
     baggage we have brought.
We need to listen to the others words and about ourselves
     cease to make a fuss.
So we can be a perfect mirror for others -- so they can find
     themselves in us.

I looked deeply into his eyes -- He looked deeply into mine.
And what I got was truly Self with ego left behind.
What I got was love and truth; there was no sign of fear.
I got -- that "In order to be present first I must disappear".

I loved deeply into her eyes -- She loved deeply into mine.
But I could never get inside her -- I could never be her mind.
And she could never get inside me -- She could never
     read my thoughts.
Yet we joined with one another and shared the
     universe we brought.

© 1999 Dr. John Simon
Woodside Animal Hospital and Bird Clinic