Writers in Libraries - Allana Young

© Allana Young 2021

Do you swear on the truth?

I'm just a witness.

Do you swear to tell the truth?

I'm just a witness.

 

What is it that you witnessed?

I can't remember, I'm just a bystander.

What I witnessed, I'm not sure.

 

Can you swear on what you saw; was the person presen?

I can't remember; I'm not sure.

I'm just a witness.

 

Well what is that you witnessed?

I'm on the stand, I'm trying to recall; I'm just not sure.

I'm here aren't I; I'm trying to recall.

It went so fast; I just don't remember.

 

Do you call yourself a witness?

I'm not sure; I can't remember.

That's my statement; what did I witness...I'm just not sure.

Right now it blurs...I don't remember...I just don't remember.

A witness to what...I'm recollecting...I'm not sure.

I'm just a witness.

 

Do you swear on the truth?

I'm just a witness.

Do you swear to tell the truth?

I...I'm just a witness.

 

Well what is it that you witnessed?

I can't remember, I'm just a bystander.

What I witnessed, I'm not sure.

Can you swear on what you saw; was the person present?

I can't remember...I'm not sure.

I'm just a witness.

 

Well what is it that you witnessed; on the stand you have to remember?

I'm trying to recall...I'm just not sure.

I'm really...I'm just...

I'm just a witness.

And I don't remember.

I'm just a witness.

Loch writer

Allana Young is a musical composer and writer from Loch, Victoria. Allana explores microfiction storytelling through both music and text, to produce unique sound stories.

Allana draws on extensive experience in academic writing, music performance, teaching and composing as well as 40 years as an educator. She is a member of Writers Victoria and a founding member of the Loch Writers Group.

© Allana Young

What does it mean to be on your own

In a time of social unrest?

As the pandemic rages; there's no turning pages

Stuck on the page of the one.

 

So there's TV and radio

There's texts and phone talk

Social media; that's no support!

You can hug the dog

Walk in the garden

Look at wildlife to fill up the plug!

 

It's the wall that is talked to

The oneness of one

The family that cannot be near.

The coffee and tea chats

No longer here that

Open the feeling of one.

 

I witnessed the chaos

And the face offs

Of others facing the same;

Oh yeah!

I witnessed

I witnessed

On the one!

 

But I cannot be part of

That QAnon madness

Of anti-vaxxers

Or conspiracy crooks!

'Cause the beauty of oneness

In this time of pandemic

Is to read and to listen and learn!

 

The beauty of one

In this time of pandemic

Is to read, to listen and to learn!

 

(Coda)

So here is my song

A little song to my witness

The witness of one!