A Poet and a Princess….
Helloooooo! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far! I can’t complain, sun has been shining, music flowing, and I got to celebrate both my birthday and the birthday of my HERO, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I will never be able to fully explain my deep admiration for Dr. King. Since I was a little girl, I remember being so moved by his words. As the years have passed, his words and his belief in nonviolence and the power of love over hate have become central parts of my being. They permeate the life I live and also the music I make. So, as I contemplated on how to best honor him here on this blog, I came across a poem written by a friend of mine (and a fellow Soundcloud Hero from Rockford, IL). His name is Christopher D. Sims aka UniverSouLove.
He shared the poem below with me and I loved it so much, I thought I’d share it with you. Here it is:
In the 21st century, Martin’s Dream
seems so far flung. So not far from
former Slave’s who were murdered,
hung.
In the 21st century, Martin’s Dream
Finds Brown vs. Board of Education
A failure to nations of young people
who see that progress is
achievable.
In the 21st century, Martin’s Dream
discovers archaic drug laws, the
criminal justice system’s flaws,
politcian’s locked in the jaws of
the corporation.
Martin’s Dream in the 21st century
sees so, so, so much poverty. His
Poor People’s Campaign is much
needed, as American company’s
are the greediest. We are failing,
denying, the neediest.
In the 21st Century, Martin’s Dream
is not a reality. Mathematically, African-
Americans make up only 13% of America.
However, for some reason, we are
still licking our wounds from opposition,
failure.
Where will be in another 50 years?
If King’s Dream were alive today
It would be shedding tears.
Copyright Christopher D. Sims
January 21st, 2012
Dedicated to the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chris is a kindred spirit and I appreciated his words so much as they do raise questions and touch on the fact that the “Dream” may be lost. Before Dr. King was murdered, one of his main focuses was poverty. It only takes one short walk around the block in any city in America to see that there is much more work that needs to be done in regards to the problem of poverty. How is it that so much time has passed, yet so little has been accomplished in this area? I agree with Chris, I believe Dr. King would be “shedding tears”.
Coming across Chris’ poem, it made me think of one that I wrote about a year ago. I thought it would be a good parallel to his. It is called the “American Dream”:
There is no rest for the weary
day turns into night
night turns into day
we are zombies, us all
walking through the streets with our breath sagging, our knuckles raw
from pounding against the steel of your vault
dark circles like swirls of smoke around our eyes
you’ve got us looking like raccoons
in a world run by buffoons
no prospects
no respect
so do we reject
the dream you’ve been selling?
dream
I wish I could
my eyes try and try
but my mind knows
if I rest I die
cause that’s the way you made the game
and so I spend each day the same
watching my blacks turn grays
until I forge a new path out of the haze
and when I do
I will see what you didn’t want me to see
that I don’t need you… NO!…
you are the one who needs me
so there it is–now it is clear
why you spin the way you do,
why you got our hands stuck like glue
to the metal of the machine
but I wash my hands clean of the dream you are selling
instead I will blaze my own trail
one where you have not set me up to fail
and I will be the first
if I don’t lose my thirst
if I don’t let my eyes win
if I don’t let the doubt in
if I don’t hear you say
I cannot go that way
if I keep my mind clear
Then will MY dream be here
and, then, I will laugh at the sleep i lost
and how much of my life it cost
trying so hard to break into you
because I never even needed to
So, I know that I have been sharing more Music than Words on here for the most part, so I thought I’d switch things up a bit this time. Hope something in either poem spoke to you and caused you to think, reflect. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit. Until next time!
Words & Music 
In both poems – something nostalgic lingers- there’s is a sadness but there is also some pride in our awareness. The words and causes of Martin Luther King, Jr. may not have fully manifested in the way he dreamed but his memory will never die. Each and every year, we take time to reflect on his words, deeds and measure them to our own individually and collectively. Of course, there is so much to be done, many wrongs to become rights but there is hope, too. xoxo! Great post!
I agree. No one will forget him, he made too big a mark. There is always hope….always:)
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