I've posted an image of the infamous 'Zen Circle' (right). It symbolizes no-thing-ness. As most zen proverbs confuse us, this one is similar as the zen circle entails that in no-thing-ness is everything. Essentially, no thing is more important or to be held to a greater level of prestige as anything else. We must hope that everyone experiences happiness and that suffering is eliminated.
Every thing and every one is to be equal, no better or worse/ greater or less.
The Unheard Voices
by: Matt Badali
These are the unheard voices.
They are the voices of many people, many colours, many experiences.
Each voice has a different story to tell. Each voice speaks a different language.
Some voices don’t use any words.
The unheard voices speak of hope.
The unheard voices speak of fear.
Fear because nobody knows.
Hope because somebody cares.
Every voice tells a different story.
The unheard voices belong to people who matter.
Everyone matters.
They belong to people who may need help.
They belong to people who may not need help.
All of the voices belong to people who need to be heard.
The voices are unheard because people choose not to listen.
When people choose not to listen, they ignore an important message.
The message can be heard around the world.
When you want to hear the message, listen.
Listen with your ears, listen with your eyes, listen with your heart.
Listen to those who are hungry.
Listen to those who are abandoned.
Listen to those who are affected by war.
Listen to those who cannot afford education.
Listen to those who have no shelter.
Listen to those who are not allowed to speak out.
Listen to the voices of ability.
Listen to the voices of diversity.
Listen to the voices that surround you every day.
When you listen to these voices, the message becomes clear.
Everybody fears. Everybody hopes. Everybody loves.
Whether you hear with your ears, your eyes, or your heart; listen with an open mind.
Listen to the unheard voices.
Awesome job posting your poem. For me it screams about the issue of apathy that seems to have run rampant in this generation (not that I have a long enough history to compare to previous generations). But it seems that because we're in a world where we have so much access to "seeing" each others pain, the struggles and suffering of others that we've become oversatturated with it all. We see it but don't "hear" or feel it. I often hear people say we've lost a sense of community in our more recent generations and I think that's true. This digital realm we live in, like many things is a blessing and a curse. We get the chance to connect with so many. To keep "in touch" but rarely do people really try to "touch" someone else's life. We go as far as "liking" someones status in hopes that that will make a change, and even that can be difficult (as "We Day" proved). I'm not sure what the answer is to get people to get past avatars and pictures and truly interact with each other and try to make a real change in the world around them, but maybe poetry such as this is a step.
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