For DBC in Milwaukee, A Marching Song!
I am reposting this revised “marching” song I wrote last year when the DBC (before they were formed) led a protest at AGBell’s summer conference on AVT in Virginia. This song was written and is now dedicated to DBC and their noble, honorable, and very important work for deaf children worldwide.
Octopus Volt refers to an archetypal character in the Deaf Child mythology symbolizing audism. The Volta Bureau, AGBell, and their organizations are the historical realities behind this archetype.
To the organizers and attendees of the DBC conference, have a great one!
Share! Empower! with Love!
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For the Deaf Child
A marching song dedicated to the Deaf Bilingual Coalition . . .
. . .
(drumming begins)
. . .
Soldier On, March On, Forge On
For our dDeaf children, the Deaf Child
. . .
Soldier on, thy Deaf comrades
With thy Deaf Conscience purest
. . .
March on, into the city of Milwaukee
To the Volt’s Bi-annual Conference
. . .
Forge on, to fight only an arm
Of the Giant Octopus Volt
. . .
Soldier On, March On, Forge On
For our dDeaf children, the Deaf Child
. . .
Soldier on, to awake the slumbering Giant
of the General Public about Castle Volt
. . .
March on, sign “loudly” and articulate well
Using interpreters and codas, our natural allies
. . .
Forge On, with hearing and deaf parents
Who believe in the Deaf Child, first
. . .
Soldier On, March On, Forge On
For our deaf children, the Deaf Child
. . .
Solider on, today’s battle won or lost? no matter
We have just begun a War against Octopus Volt
. . .
March on, to Volta Bureau in Georgetown
Another arm, recruiting soldiers from nearby
. . .
Forge On, against National Geographic Magazine
Another arm, refusing to do an article on the Deaf.
. . .
Soldier On, March On, Forge On
With loving kindness for our Deaf Child
. . .
Soldier On, toward new parents of deaf children
To make them realize that Language comes first
. . .
March On, to many more Battle sites
Against the people of Volt to wake them up
. . .
Forge on, show them the Book
Of our history and irrevocable bilingualism
. . .
Soldier On, March on, Forge On
With loving kindness for our Deaf Child
. . .
Soldier on, but don’t destroy the Volt soldiers
Love them as ones of our sacred comrades
. . .
March on, toward the dreaded Castle Volt
But don’t burn the castle down, cherish it
. . .
Forge on, make them our expert in teaching speech
Not on how to raise our Deaf Child holistically
. . .
Soldier on, March On, Forge On
For our dDeaf children, the Deaf Child
. . .
Soldier on, make them JOIN US in the War
To liberate the minds and souls our deaf children
. . .
March on, for our dDeaf children of the Now
and the Deaf Child of the Future
. . .
Forge on, for our dDeaf children
And for the Deaf Child within us . . .
. . .
Soldier On, March on, and Forge on!
. . .
Solider On!
March On!
Forge On!
. . .
(drumming ceases)
. . .
Amen