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Open Poetry #49
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Black day in July, and again in April (for MLK)
| Open Poetry #49 |
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Black day in July, and again in April (for MLK) |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
  "And the soul of motor city is bared across the land As the book of law and order is taken in the hands Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land" (from "Black Day In July" written by Gordon Lightfoot) An arm is cocked, the wick is cotton. Bottle shapes make a perfect grip. Glass, in shards are the beads of an abacus- Adding up hate, that never shows profit. Printing in ink, addition in numbers On tumble down walls, at the start Of the count; Minus the wounded, deaths, And destruction, At the corner of twelfth, And a street named Clairmont. See how the buildings shine. When fired by flowers of evil, Bursting from buds of gas, And kerosene Turned in a kaleidoscope- Showing red blossoms, With hints of violet-orange, Then yellow, then cooling To cold-charcoal gray, With the hue of recent cremation. To hit back, to avenge? Thoughts run big in a small brain, A believer of evil, triumphant Makes heard a vile report His lead messenger, Gains the arc of trajectory, That on target, finds its mark; A preacher of peace, speaking From a spring warmed balcony. ******************************* I post this today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Who I feel was assassinated by James Earl Ray, in part because of the Detroit riots (July, 1967), in part out of pure racial hated On April 4, 1967. But evil begets evil, and as MLK would say: "Right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant" [This message has been edited by ice (01-19-2016 07:52 AM).] |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Right on. |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
After all these years his dream is a paradox of sorts. We have come so far and yet so much remains the same. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I wonder what MLK would think of the black rabble-rousers which keep things completely stirred up. I have a feeling he would not be too delighted with them. His was a Gandhi-like movement. ~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~ |
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Cari Member Posts 411 Englnand |
Your poem for some reason got me thinking of famous speeches. The two I discarded were the Band of Brothers speech at Agincourt because it was never spoken by Henry 5 but written years after by you know who. The second is not a speech as such but is often quoted as one. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The fine words ring a touch hollow to me. My second choice would be Queen Elizabeth 1 to her troops at Tilbury before Drake defeated the massive Spanish Armada. These are her actual words she spoke. I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm, to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms. My first, without a shadow of doubt is Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” He gave it to the nation and got a bullet in return. A very good poem which I enjoyed reading. Cari. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Everything changed in the late nineteen sixties. At least in the New Haven Area of Conn. Until then we lived in a beautiful place with both blacks and whites.My children had the experience of being with so many great people of both races as my husband and I were active in the ever bustling community. We had fantastic boys on great baseball teams,Girl scouts and boy scouts. A Community building where we planed and held many activities. On Wednesday afternoon the children of the Catholic faith went to their churches for instructions. So I found teachers to come to the center on that day and they gave Bible studies. Evey child in the neighborhood was in one place or the other and all learned so much.I could write a book.I am so thankful my children had never had to hear the nasty words tossed around as they hear today. Those twenty years flew by and there was never a boring day. What a learning experience my children had. We often talk about it. best to all and thank you Ice for this wonderful post today. JO |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Balladeer--Thank you for reading... Your reply is short, but very effective..:-) ******************************************* Blues "We have come so far and yet so much remains the same." Humanity moves at an evolutionary pace, But we must "carry it on" Some must wait for those who still live in the stone age to catch up. Thanks for reading, and the reply. *********************************** Jerry Thanks you for reading, and the reply.. I would think that MLK would approach black or white hooligans the same today, as he did when he was alive...knowing that violence ends up wedding itself to more violence. There were many white people looting during the Detroit riot of July 1967. !0 white looters were killed by the police as a result. King scolded them all-killers and the killed. ***************************************** Cari Yes, the "“I have a Dream” speech is epic... I also hold the words at the end of "The Grapes Of Wrath" as epic.. and see a close relationship between the two "speeches" " "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air Look for me Mom I'll be there Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand Or decent job or a helpin' hand Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me." Tom Joad had a great influence on MLK, whether he knew it or not. Or, perhaps, those kinds of feelings are natural in mankind, and once in a while from a great novel, or person we are reminded of it. Thanks for the reply. *********************************************** L.A. I believe that MLK would be proud of what you said.. It was his dream for people to live like that.. That's all that he wanted for everyone.. Thank you for reading, and your thoughtful reply. "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." Carl Sandburg |
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