On the scale of public aspiration, <br />‘journalist’ comes second bottom to ‘politician’ <br />- in Britain; whereas in France, it <br />comes second top after ‘author’… <br /> <br />to be interested in everything, by this calling; <br />to be interested in everyone, by this calling; <br />now that’s a calling worth responding to: <br /> <br />to ‘interview’ by asking a first question; <br />to listen to the very end of answer <br />until in the silence after the last word, <br />the next question emerges in the mind; thus <br /> <br />to question so that enthusiasm’s touched; <br />and in the person who confronts you, <br />the glow of heart’s true love brings all the light of self <br />to make the room a timeless temple of humanity; <br /> <br />to have an interview end as such a blessing; and so, <br />as one exchange of heart returns to being two people, <br />switch off the recorder, close the notebook; <br />with glory-lit and humble, slightly moist eye.<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/some-musings-on-journalism/
