Voices in the silence

We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” 

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” 

― Malala Yousafzai, I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

“I raise up my voice-not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”
― Malala Yousafzai

________

Shhhhhh

[Silence]

Hmmmm

[Silence]

Shhhhhh

[Silence]

Hmmmm

[Silence]

Ahhhh - ohhh - ahhh -ayeee [vocalise solo]

From the bowels of the earth

Seeds of life fill my being

I sense the fire 

driving breath throughout my soul

From the caverns underground

Vibrant streams flood my seeing

I behold the colours 

Swirling round my core  

From the death of fallen fruit

Shoots of green break through terrain

I feel tingling in the cells
Flowing through my veins

[instrumentals, featuring moments of silence, and finishing in silence...]

I raise my voice - out of the void
I raise my voice - out of emptiness
I sing this song - out of the space around me
I sing these words - when no-one wants to hear

I will not be silenced!
I will not withdraw!
I will sing with my every breath -
I will form the words for all -

These are the names of forgotten
The names of those whose harmonies -
are needed to bring peace -
and missing from our tables -
are hidden from the pictures
that we paint of common life.

I will not be silenced!
I will not withdraw!
I will sing with my every breath -
I will form the words for all -

C.2018,  A.Koh-Butler