Birds chirping
Babies crying
Silence needed
Cars passing
>
The thoughts are too loud
I can’t hear myself think
Suddenly it goes quiet and I am instantly aware of how shallow my breath is
>
I try to focus but anxiety takes over
In an instant my brain feels like a factory burning down
I look at one spot hoping my imagination will get less chaotic
That my eyes will deceive me until I forget about the noise inside of me
>
Desperately I try to breath but it’s as though there’s not enough air in the room
I feel faint and I anticipate my fall
Up and down, side by side…thoughts rush through my head
>
I find myself trying to yell but exhaustion tells me that will take too much effort
That I need to save myself and the little energy left in me
However I also know that soon I will be depleted
Gone with the wind and no one will notice
For I have let the noise silence me for too long
Just like that…. my existence was forgotten
>
I utter one word and I notice how dry my mouth is
I look around, anxiously hoping to get just one drop of water
But all I see is a desert and my deserted emotions
Nothing I say now will save me
For in my presence I had always been absent
>
If I had lived in the moment
Maybe then would I matter!!!
Jane Mpholo is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, entrepreneur, and changemaker from Botshabelo, South Africa. As CEO of Jane Mpholo Pty Ltd, she is pioneering work in theatre, film, and site-specific performance art. The first recipient of the CCIA’s “Outstanding Actor in Theatre” award, she has performed, written, and produced for national and international stages. Honored with two honorary awards from Onalerona Productions NPC and the Southern Region Women in Media Awards, she is a mentor, producer, and advocate for inclusivity. Through bold storytelling, she sparks important conversations, shaping the performing arts landscape and inspiring change worldwide.
