Quiet Ones Rise

Back wall, brave heart
Quiet ones rise

I come in late with my hood still up
Phone light hiding half my face
Everybody's already glowing
Like they were born in the middle of the place
I know the corner by the speaker
Where the blue light barely lands
I hold my drink with both my fingers
So nobody sees my hands

One hand leaves my pocket
One breath climbs my throat
The blue light finds my sleeve
And the claps begin to grow

Hands up for the quiet ones
Hands up if you feel too much
We don't have to shout to be alive
Watch the quiet ones rise

Up, up, quiet ones (quiet hands can rise)
Up, up, soft hearts (light the room tonight)

There's a nurse by the exit doorway
Still wearing half of yesterday
A father with a wedding-ring tan
Moves like sorrow found its way
The shy ones start with little motions
Fingers tapping on the glass
Then one clap turns into fifty
And the whole wall wakes at last

The wall starts moving with us
The claps get close and clear
A stranger lifts her elbow
And makes a little room right here

Hands up for the quiet ones
Hands up if you feel too much
We don't have to shout to be alive
Watch the quiet ones rise

For every kid who ate lunch silent
For every heart that loved from far
For every voice that shook in meetings
For every one who cried in the car
You don't need a louder version
You were always loud enough

One clap for the back-wall people
Two claps for the ones who stayed
Three claps for the soft-spoken fighters
Turning nervous into brave

Hands up for the quiet ones
Hands up if you feel too much
We don't have to shout to be alive
Watch the quiet ones rise

Up, up, quiet ones (quiet hands can rise)
Up, up, soft hearts (light the room tonight)

Not loud, still light
Quiet ones rise