THE CRY AWOKE BALINTAWAK
BY AURELIO S. ALVERO
"Freedom" (full)
The cry awoke Balintawak,
And the echoes answered back;
"Freedom!" (fading away)
All the four winds listened long
To the shrieking of that song;
Every poet struck his lyre
With those burning notes of fire;
Girls:
All the women knelt to pray
In their hearts that frenzied lay.
Boys:
E'en the children and the old
Took to arms and shouted
bold, (increasing volume)
"Freedom!"
Each a solo line spoken with
assurance:
I heard it from the planters in the
vales
I heard it from the traders tying bales;
I heard it where the fishers strike
their sails--
I heard it from the huskers 'neath the
trees;
I heard it from the drivers of the seas,
I heard it from the pounders in the
leas.
All:
All the people raised to cry,
Fearing not to bleed or die;
All the tombs of slave and sire
Broke to voice and great desire;
Up the mountain, down the plain
(rising, then falling)
Lounder, lounder rang the
strain, (increasing volume)
"Freedom!" (ringing)
Each a solo line spoken with
assurance:
I heard it from the makers of the
brooms;
I heard it from the weavers at their
looms;
I heard it in the smoking smithy
rooms.
I heard it in the bullet's whine at
roars;
I heard it in the farthest islet shore.
All:
We heard it and shall hear it
evermore!
"Freedom!" (full)
The cry of Balintawak,
And now our voices answer back--
"Freedom!" (joyously full)