Where We Are Going

BY MARILYN BUCK

For Fear Of
Being Called

In Peru a demonstration

against a rise in bread prices

is stopped

because of threats to renounce

those who demand bread

as terrorists

we fear language

an electric cattle prod

to drive us into corners

where we cower

for fear of being called

terrorists or communists or

criminals

why do we allow

capitalists and congressmen

to rob us of our language

to intimidate us into cutting out

our tongues

to paralyze our movements?

why are we more afraid

to be called terrorists

than to die in the dark

leaving no one to speak for us?

* Marilyn Buck (Out of Control 1998 30)