Silent no More

by Ann Christine Tabaka

The silence of a thousand years

is broken with a whisper,

emanating from

the heartbeat of oppression.

Time can no longer restrain truth.

It breaks open sins of the past.

Soaring above the rabble,

chains falling off,

secrets bleed out.

Blackened bones of our ancestors

crumble in desperation.

It is my turn to speak.

My words are winter rain.

Bare limbs reaching from the pyre,

their cries can no longer

be buried alive with their bodies. 

Blue songs and green desires

melt away in an inferno.

Annealed, weak become strong.

Pained voices unite,

shedding off their shroud,

never more to be silenced.

* * * * *

"Silent no More" was first published by Barren Magazine (September 2018)

Ann Christine Tabaka was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize in Poetry, has been internationally published, and won poetry awards from numerous publications. She is the author of 9 poetry books. Christine lives in Delaware, USA. She loves gardening and cooking. Chris lives with her husband and two cats. Her most recent credits are: Burningword Literary Journal, The Write Connection, Ethos Literary Journal, North of Oxford, Pomona Valley Review, Page & Spine, West Texas Literary Review, The Hungry Chimera, Sheila-Na-Gig, Pangolin Review, Foliate Oak Review, Better Than Starbucks!, The Write Launch, The Stray Branch, The McKinley Review, Fourth & Sycamore. Website: https://annchristinetabaka.com/