Collective Noise Poem by Cheryl L. DaytecYañgot

Alone,
To rid my soul of pain
I shouted
Till my voice was hoarse
No one heard me

And then I heard you
Each in your separate worlds
Shouting
In your pain
I joined you

Together we moaned
Our message was too loud
To be ignored

Now our voices are blending
Walls are trembling
Foundations are shaking

Under our
Collective noise

(Based on a talk delivered by Prof. Elifuraha Laltaika of Tanzania; 10 November 2008)