Why We Cry Out Poem by March Nicks

As children, our cries are hushed
Our parents beg us not to make a scene
Sit down, be calm, be quiet
Don't draw attention
Don't speak out of turn

We internalize this
We take these words
And strive not to make a fool of ourselves
My face has forgotten what it feels like
To feel tears stream down my face

Then something awakens
Within my heart and soul,
Such sadness swells
I watch the news
To see what has happened
time and time again

But then the plea of my elders
ring loudly in my ear
Sit down, be calm, be quiet
Don't make a fuss
Be polite

But how are we supposed
to be polite when the world
is full of unfair and unreal injustice?

Faces of children starving
Emotionally and physically
Choices being made about
the sanctity of life
but ignoring the things
that threaten us everyday

But still, like a broken record
Society tells us
Sit down, be calm, be quiet
No need to rock the boat


How can I sit still
on a boat that is already sinking
Trying to save myself
while ignoring those around me
crying for help
Can you rock a boat
that's already crashed into the iceberg

In moments of silence and solitude,
my thoughts pour into my mind
Images feel my head
Things I cannot unsee
Sounds that pierce
My still beating heart

Sit down, be calm, be quiet-
No More
It is in this moment
that I begin to understand this universal truth
Silence is as dangerous as the weapons themselves
And I begin to cry out

No one may hear my pleas
No one may care
I may cry out
until my face is red
and my lips are blue
But I will not be silent any more

For we have the right to cry out