The Cry Awoke Balintawak by Aurelio S.

Alvero

"Freedom" (full)
The cry awoke Balintawak,
And the echoes answered back; Lounder, lounder rang the strain,
"Freedom!" (fading away) (increasing volume)
All the four winds listened long "Freedom!" (ringing)
To the shrieking of that song; Each a solo line spoken with
Every poet struck his lyre assurance:
With those burning notes of fire;
I heard it from the makers of the
Girls: brooms;
All the women knelt to pray I heard it from the weavers at their
In their hearts that frenzied lay. looms;
I heard it in the smoking smithy
Boys: rooms.
E'en the children and the old I heard it in the bullet's whine at
Took to arms and shouted bold, roars;
(increasing volume) I heard it in the farthest islet shore.
"Freedom!"
Each a solo line spoken with All:
assurance: We heard it and shall hear it
I heard it from the planters in the evermore!
vales "Freedom!" (full)
I heard it from the traders tying The cry of Balintawak,
bales; And now our voices answer back--
I heard it where the fishers strike "Freedom!" (joyously full)
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)