What are we waiting for?

THIRD DRAFT

What are we waiting for?  By Brandy Dinsmore

I saw you on the news the other night
with fires behind you burning bright
The sounds of protest ringing in my ear,
a people who refuse to disappear.

CHORUS:          
I’ve never been in your shoes.
Never even had to choose
between fighting a war
and living life without a muse.
Never had to live in fear.
Never watched my village disappear
but I hear your spirits singing loud and clear.

I heard your interview on NPR last night
in the middle of the firefight.
Scholars weighing guns against the pen.
I wondered which will triumph in the end?

BRIDGE:
So hard to listen to the radio these days,
people killed by their own heads of state.
It’s like we’re staring down at our own past:
scared that this experiment won’t last?
Why can’t we hear their voices sing?
Can’t we hear the bells of freedom ring?
Do we even dare to dream?
                   
When I saw you on the morning news,
weary voice, but still so resolute,
exhaustion hadn’t dimmed your stand;
sowing seeds of freedom in your land. 
         
CHORUS: Then add:          
Can you hear the voice of freedom over fear?
The pen of wisdom trumps the gun and spear
but who will there be left to hear?

Poetry can make the spirits soar,
but it takes a land of hopeful souls
to negotiate an end to war.
So what are we waiting for?
What are we waiting for?


5/12/11

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SECOND DRAFT    “I Saw You On The News Tonight” by Brandy Dinsmore

I saw you on the news the other night
the fire behind you burning bright.
Something in your eyes made me see 
a kindred spirit yearning to be free.

It was hard for me to hear the sounds 
of your entire world turning inside out.
You’re a nameless face in a foreign place, so why
did I feel you were a friend of mine?

CHORUS:          
I’ve never been in your shoes.  Never even had to choose
between a war and a life without a muse. 
Never had to live in fear.  Never had to lose someone so dear,
but something about you stirred my soul
when I heard your spirit yearning to be whole.
         
I heard you on the radio last night.
Your hopeful words brought tears to my eyes.
I felt my heart begin to swell, with the seeds
of liberty that won’t be quelled.

And on the TV news this morning, you said
you're tired and torn but watching freedom forming.
And I prayed your song will not grow dim,
cause this struggle's worth it in the end.

BRIDGE:          
It’s so hard to listen to the radio these days                    
so many killed by their own heads of state.
But can’t you hear their voices sing? You know,
they hear the bell of freedom ringing in their souls?

CHORUS with changes:          
I’ve never been in your shoes, never even had to choose
between a war and a life without a muse. 
Never raised a family in a wartorn land,
Never pointed a weapon at my fellow man,
Never really had to take a stand.

When I saw you on the news tonight, you said,
you mourn your losses but still you'll stay and fight.
And I know you won't be weeping for long,
now that you've heard that siren’s song.
         
But take it from a friend in a foreign place,
something has changed upon your face.
It's taking root inside your soul, even though
it will take time to reach your final goal.
 
It will always be a song inside your soul.
You see, freedom can make you whole.


To those in the Middle East with birth pains of democracy. 



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FIRST DRAFT    “On The News Tonight” by Brandy Dinsmore

I saw you on the news last night
the fire behind you glowing bright.
Something in your eyes made me see 
a kindred spirit yearning to be free.

I should be sad to hear the sound 
of your world turning upside down.  You are 
a nameless face in a foreign place,
so why do feel you are a friend of mine?

         CHORUS:          
                I’ve never been where you are,
         Never had to suffer through a war,
         But I couldn’t help but hear
         your song of hope ringing in my ear.

Your excited voice made me smile,
as I shared this freedom dream with you,
meanwhile I felt my heart begin to swell,
with the seeds of liberty that can’t be quelled.

         CHORUS:          
         
                   BRIDGE:
                   It’s hard to listen to the radio these days
                   so many killed by their own heads of state
                   But can’t you hear their voices sing? Do you know
                   they hear the bell of freedom ring in their souls?

I saw you on the news last night
Tired and weary but you’re still in the fight.
Don’t let the sound go dim, my friend,
cause I know it will be worth it in the end.
         
         CHORUS (with changes):          
         I’ve never been where you are,
         Never had to suffer through a war,
         For your freedom, I’ll no longer live in fear,
         cause I know I heard your soul singing my ear.

And now I know you won’t lose hope for long,
cause once you’ve heard that siren’s song
it will take root inside your soul, even though
you may not yet reach that final goal. 

It will always be sung inside your soul, my friend.
‘cause freedom is worth it in the end, I know,
freedom can make you whole.

SWPoet
4-22-11


See link for events the song was based on,
specifically 4-22-11. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War_(January%E2%80%93April_2011)