The Strength of Meaning

The Strength of Meaning

A crowd, a square, a computer screen,
Banners rattle and voices scream
Rants, revolts, clamour and claims,
A cause is distorted and maimed
Through the temperamental cry
Of revolutionaries gone awry
By bloodlust and greed for rebellion,
Their conflicts just a collection
Of proud and empty demonstrations
Of individualism that shuns
The true goal of collective action for real change.

Not just Facebook likes or retweets.
Yet there they are on the streets:
"Say it louder!", they say, bracing
Themselves, adrenaline racing
With anticipation of clashes
Of opinion or real damage
"We need the attention", they say,
(Which could be read another way)
"Raise the sign higher! The cameras
Must record how we shatter glass"
No matter the innocent owner,
His shop and prospects left to smoulder
For all they care: their voices must be heard!

But here is the catch, my friend-
"No time! March, March!"
Democracy cannot just depend
On slogans chanted at the behest
Of the media obsessed
"Louder! Chant louder!"
Their meaningless search for vain glory,
To appear on the biggest story:
They are missing the point.
"What are you waiting for? LOUDER, I SAY!"

Listen.

Without that, there can never be true strength in those loud voices.

by Valentina Iricibar
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella