We Can All Hear The Voices

and on the inhale 

stop!! 

calm your mind 

listen 

you too can hear 

hear 

voices of those 

cast-out

displaced

lost 

better off forgotten 

dead

as you wait in line 

for your daily coffee 

p a u s e 

for you too can hear 

as you buy new clothes 

keeping up with fashion 

check-in with yourself 

before you check-out 

for you too can hear 

as you throw away 

uneaten scraps 

lapse a moment in the task

linger there

for you too can hear 

as you embrace your loved ones 

in routine and commonplace 

hold fast

take a moment longer 

make it last 

for you too can hear

hear 

voices of those 

cast out 

displaced

lost 

better off forgotten

dead 

“my mother was shot right in front of me in our village, she dropped to the ground, they see I was about to scream but the bullets hit my body first I fell on top of my mother”  Girl, 6, Boko Haram, Nigeria

“stolen away from all I knew, a gun to my head, raped, raped, raped, raped, something hard pressing on my skull, a boot, the butt of a rifle, dead” Girl 16 Nigeria

"I sat on my father's lap, he was watching the news of the war, he screamed at the television, I saw a lot of broken houses on the pictures the television was showing, then the picture went fuzzy and I heard a screeching noise, the bomb landed, right on my house' Boy 5 Palestine

“my mother gathered us up, she said we had to leave, otherwise we would be killed by the bad men, why did the bad men want to kill us? we walked, I became weak, too weak for life, I died on the side of the road” Boy 3 Syria

“on a boat, out at sea, too many people, no food, water, too much water, can’t swim, can’t breathe in the water - drowned at sea” Boy 14 Myanmar 

“it was too dangerous where I was living, my father sold everything to pay for a better life for my sister and me, we got into the back of a truck, we headed for America, my sister would look after me, we stopped I heard sirens, i was scared, so scared, my sister held my hand, everything in the back of the truck was black, there were lots of people packed into the truck, all of us trying to find a better life, i didn’t want to leave my mother and father, my father promised it was for the best, when the truck stopped I heard people crying, silent crying because we were told not to make a noise of else we would be put on fire, somebody must have made a noise, I was put on fire”  Girl with Sister 11 & 16 Mexico

“why am I dead now?” 

Lost children of the world were never given a chance or an answer of why?

maybe

just maybe 

if we all learn to 

hear the voices 

of those 

cast out

displaced

lost 

but not forgotten

maybe

just maybe 

we can learn

together

just how to 

make this world 

a better place

XXX

Author's Note

I would love some real raw and honest thoughts here please :) X

Reviews

[emmajoy]

Dear goodness, dear God, this makes thought and tears irrelevant.. tis one of the most powerful posts I've ever read in the Cafe!

Dear you, you've not put a foot wrong in putting together this moving tribute.. cos that's what it is. Every word weeps for those millions of children worldwide who've suffered, who suffer and more than tragically will CONTINUE to suffer at the hands of the evil that grows and grows on our planet.

Ok, have to stop. Crying.

[R Smith]

I'd just like to but in and echo every word of Emmajoy, the evil grows every day, all we have are tears for those who suffer and prayers for them and that this evil can be halted before it creeps across the whole world :)

[KWP]

Dear You and You (Boss) it is people like you two who make this world a better place and I am lucky to have you both - thank you for reading and even more so for your thoughts XXX LOVE XXX

[R Smith]

Thank you Bossette, you know me so well despite distance and time, one day this world will be that better place for all, i'm still looking forward to that ledge and much to talk about, much love from here XXX

[Sindu]

There is so much pain and so little they got to live. I feel slightly guilty and sad that I couldn't do anything for them. Somehow that I was no help. Very strong reason in this.

Their voices, we should honor. Pray that no one else meets that end. Yet many still do. And I'm very angry, hurt and guilty.

[KWP]

It's yoooooooouuuuu hullo there lovely one .... it's been a while ... so fill me in on how is life :) X

[Sindu]

Ahahaha.. Leave it you to make ppl feel welcomed. Hello there you lovely bottle of craziness =)
read moreAhahaha.. Leave it you to make ppl feel welcomed. Hello there you lovely bottle of craziness =)
Life is being drastic.. Making absolutely no sense

[Sindu]

How is your busy life?

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

It is so easy to not appreciate what we have and forget those who have nothing.
One act of kindness to those in need just once a week can make a difference.

[KWP]

yes you said it exactly ... cheers Dale ... hope all is well your side of da planet X

[Border]

Spoken like a true world leader, if only our democratic system could allow individuals with such fine thoughts to win elections without politico-industrial lobby nexus, to present only those suitable to their own interests. However flawed our system is, it is still better than other totalitarian regimes, but I still have a fond hope that individuals with such passion should be in positions to make decisions for the world at large.
Sorry I have given all of you a very large canvas to review this simple but powerful poem.
The pen is indeed mightier than the sword. It changes the thought processes of generations to come, to shun old ingrained hate and imbibe love.
A poem that needs to be adopted as the UNITED NATIONS anthem, and I propose that during the next UN General Assembly, this poem should be read out loud to all world leaders ( Those who do not speak English must have audio translations through their headphones)
I am indeed proud to join a group having writers like this author, who has a beautiful mind that can change the world, if given half a chance.

[KWP]

Thank you so much for your kind and well-penned review .. ahh yes and we can all change the world can't we ... if that is what we really wish to do X

[Chirag Kumar]

Very touching poem KWP. Moved me to tears

[Thatoetsile Simons Thup..]

Fantasy makes this poem and tribute story great.Good use of imagination and nature.

This poem touched deep down the heart.Caught myself reading outloud with a great heartbeat.

The incidents and voices brings sad emotion.The senses and shape of this poem are great.I got to say WELL DONE

[Willard Wells]

The reality and raw truth of your work is beautiful in a very sad way. So many innocent dying for someone else's idea of life. It is not truly living when you do not see a future but death. The pain of this piece makes it hard to judge because of its truth. Thank you for a compelling piece of writing.

[sereenaoutloud]

WOW, i love it ..such an impact that makes. i was holding my breath while reading it and did realize until got to to the end! Dam girl this is such strong write.
The format with the small verse above and below just superb!!
This should come with a warning... box of kleenex tissues needed while reading!! :)

[KWP]

Yeah thanks chick this one has been lulling in my mind for a few weeks now ... Glad to get it out ... Love to Ya X

[sereenaoutloud]

it is really so powerful girlie!!
Love to ya too xx

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ..there is certainly enough evil in the world for today isn't there!? i think your poem begins with a strong admonition to stop and think ..focus ... one must feel ashamed at the importance we put on comparatively trivial things ... what i am doing now and plans for the next hour, four hrs. ...the day ... i will do all those things most times without a thought nor prayer for suffering children ... seems there are not enough prayers to stop it ... hope and faith have to be the building block for continued prayer and action .. i feel so small :(
the quotes ..like bullet points and news flashes are very effective ... this is not a flowery collection of words but very real ... i do believe that prayer is effective ... your poem reminds one and all to do something, anything to stop so much evil .. stay the hand of the violent, the wicked ... bring justice to the innocent ... even if it is just for one ..dear Lord hear my prayers :(((
E.

[KWP]

Thanks gorgeous you ... When you stop by it really feels like home X

[Einstein Noodle]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm! very cool! love to you too :)

[fattycbreezy52]

This is very touching.It's so very true that even those who suffer and die in the process are remembered for two days.......or two months?That's it.It's true that we all feel deep inside .Yet,our mundane routine makes us forget all those miseries completely.We revert to the old dictum "It happened to others,not me".We cannot feel it the way they must have .But yes,if we can still keep up with the daily chores and trivial things in our life,we can also equally attach much importance to the people who suffered without any cause.Empathy can change the world.Tryng to reach out can be a good option.This poem spoke to me.Great thing

[KWP]

hey there you - thank you for your thoughtful review - Empathy can change the world - yes 100% - can we teach that in schools?

[fattycbreezy52]

Yes, absolutely;)

[Mitali Shah]

Heart touching piece dear. Just praying and hoping soon your worlds turn out to be real and the world turns out to be a better place where all can here the best things that He has granted each one of us. Thanks for sharing.