Time to Chat?A Reflection on Friendship, Listening, and Longing to Be Heard

Time to Chat?

Boiling water

Soak the beans

Smell the coffee

Feel the steam

Quiet morning

Rain and clouds

Text a friend

Time to chat?

Text another

Still unread

Call a number

No one home

I need to talk

a friend to listen

But everyone's

got their stuff

I sigh....

I scroll

I make a post

a laugh, a hug

a little boast.

“How are you, friend?”

“I’m here if you need.”

Hearts and thumbs

Support we feed

They smile and say

"Thanks, for the love"

So many "friends"...

Yet no ears to lend.

The ringtone hums

I answer quick

So happy to hear

your voice

You’re hurting

I listen

I stay and hold space

“I’m here, I get it.”

Hopeful to bring

a smile to your face

An hour goes by

and then another

I listen and try to uplift

As you rehash

What troubled your day

Then a pause

Oh wait—how am I?

You say?

I take a big breath

I start to share

The struggles that trouble my day...

“Oh shoot!

You say

"You have to go"

“Got another call.”“

"Talk soon, okay?”

.......okay.....

I stare at the wall.

The silence loud

The grief unfinished

the story untold

Still need a sister

Still need a friend

Do I text again....

Time to chat?

No one home

By Tamara Bernal

2022

Author’s Note: I wrote this poem in 2022, during a season that felt especially quiet and lonely. I was going through some heavy things in my personal life, and like many of us do, I tried to reach out, send the texts, make the calls, and show up online with support and encouragement for others. But when it was my turn to talk, to be heard, there just didn’t seem to be room.

I’m sharing it now, not because I feel that same ache today, I’m grateful to have stronger, more present friendships in this season, but because I know this feeling still lingers in the hearts of many. Maybe you’ve been here too. Maybe you’re there right now.

This poem is for those moments. And for the people who keep showing up anyway.