A Particular Form of Expression Called Narrative

The discipline of listening
To others reminisce is not
Practiced, past a few professions.

It’s a shame there’s no profession
Paid purely for such listening—
Not as oral historians,

Ethnographers or journalists,
Counselors or talk therapists,
All of whom pursue other ends,

Such as healing, understanding,
And rising on bestseller lists—
Just listening. Reminiscence

Itself could be a discipline,
Neither autobiography
Nor memoir. Just considering

Memory without tidying,
Without putting it back to work
On predictions, reminiscing

Could yield a least-worst condition
Of the deceitful expressions
Known as narratives. Just think back.