When Fear Came
Jo Austin
It seemed such a distant sound
We played in the streets to the soundtrack of children’s laughter
It hummed in the background
We looked the other way and clinked our social glasses
We missed it take a sip
As cars carried on in their familiar rhythm
We didn’t notice as the dance change step
Then with deafening thud it landed
So immediate
So threatening
Thud
Breath escaped
Doors slammed
Thud
Locks clanged
Sirens rang
Curtains shut
Power cut
Fear is hear
Don’t stand near
As we held our breath it consumed for a moment
Reports flood our ears with sounds of violence
The switch to insanity is almost too much to bear
Suffocated by life as we know it
Clinging closely to those we have left to touch
And softly we exhaled
We peeped in the garden
A toe on the footpath
The buzzing electricity
The power that connects us
Who is there?
We reach out
Can we return to who we were
And on that day when we push the locks back
Open into blinding light as if it were the first time our eyes could see
There on the street
You and me
We are free
Embarrassed I notice how ragged our clothes
I see the blood stains on my arms
My face has changed shape
I’m suddenly ashamed of who I’ve become, who we’ve become
I avoid your glance
You don’t want to come near
There is no going back
It’s changed us
Fear changed us
We dash back behind the comfort of our cold walls
shut the fear out
Thud
Marketing expert for charity The Women’s Organisation by day, Jo Austin is a singer, song writer, and poet, who first performed live poetry for International Women’s Day (2009).
It seemed such a distant sound
We played in the streets to the soundtrack of children’s laughter
It hummed in the background
We looked the other way and clinked our social glasses
We missed it take a sip
As cars carried on in their familiar rhythm
We didn’t notice as the dance change step
Then with deafening thud it landed
So immediate
So threatening
Thud
Breath escaped
Doors slammed
Thud
Locks clanged
Sirens rang
Curtains shut
Power cut
Fear is hear
Don’t stand near
As we held our breath it consumed for a moment
Reports flood our ears with sounds of violence
The switch to insanity is almost too much to bear
Suffocated by life as we know it
Clinging closely to those we have left to touch
And softly we exhaled
We peeped in the garden
A toe on the footpath
The buzzing electricity
The power that connects us
Who is there?
We reach out
Can we return to who we were
And on that day when we push the locks back
Open into blinding light as if it were the first time our eyes could see
There on the street
You and me
We are free
Embarrassed I notice how ragged our clothes
I see the blood stains on my arms
My face has changed shape
I’m suddenly ashamed of who I’ve become, who we’ve become
I avoid your glance
You don’t want to come near
There is no going back
It’s changed us
Fear changed us
We dash back behind the comfort of our cold walls
shut the fear out
Thud
Marketing expert for charity The Women’s Organisation by day, Jo Austin is a singer, song writer, and poet, who first performed live poetry for International Women’s Day (2009).
