Voices of Many

Loud and clear,
Soft and subtle,

Uttering
Urging
Beckoning
Bellowing
Whining
Screaming
Shrieking
Tap, tap, tapping,

Without words, without volume
With oh so much to say.

Affirming
Demeaning
Confirming
Denying
Questioning
Answering
Confusing
Amusing
Wanting
Waning
Declaring
Demanding,

Jockeying for position in the forum
of vigilant bodies eager to hear.

Capturing attention
Falling on deaf ears
Tumbling messages filled with pitfalls and promise
Wending their way through bustling traffic
on the information highway of consciousness.

Exhilirating
Exhausting.

Clamoring choirs spinning out dirges infused with doom and gloom
Angelic arias intoning earnest chants of hope and honor

Rap-ture, Torture
Lyrical License or Looney Tunes.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell . . .
Sometimes it’s hard to hear . . .

Who is speaking?
Who will listen?
Who will take heed?

Who cares enough to discern what is wanted,
what is needed, what rings true?

Who will attend, attune, atone,
amend, appreciate, activate?
Who will take the lead?
And who will follow?

© Gail Barrie 2010