The Music of Absence
By Kathy Bacile
Stop the noise:
The drone of the television;
the radio static too.
Close the windows
so the sirens are muffled,
the gunning car muted,
explosions of laughter,
Rat-a-tat-tat of the woodpecker and the drum of rain –
all deadened.
Stand,
so you’re alert,
not lulled by the quiet.
Let it wake you instead
to the important music of absence.
Stand,
as at attention:
hats off, arms at your side.
Invite Silence in,
to stand with you.
Allow only the steady tick
of the second hand
from the clock on the wall
marking time
as it marches forward,
soldiering on.
Stand,
quietly,
in gratitude,
in safety,
in peace,
in Canada.
Take one brief, silent minute
to remember,
lest we forget,
that our drumming is rain to bring flowers,
our guns are the engines young teens rev on a summer, Saturday night,
our sirens are paramedics racing to help us,
our explosions are laughter and conversation with neighbours.
And all of this music
so taken for granted that it just blends into
the background noise of our peaceful world…
All of it
because of their sacrifice.
Follow us on Facebook. Leave your comments in the post.