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Mysteria
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since 2001-03-07
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British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2004-01-19 01:28 PM




                 

~*~ A Garden Of Hope ~*~


He had offered her a tiny pack of seeds to plant a garden,
In a tiny patch of earth in his yard.
He said his name was Jack, and it would make him happy.
Twice he said,"Really it's nothing."

Painstakingly watered and loved to precision,
The little garden grew to her disbelief,
While tears of joy and pride burned her cheeks.
She loved watching the wonder of the shoots popping up,
Tiny flowers that promised food for the family made her smile.

She loved to listen to his stories of the march that day,
While the spoils of her daily labor smiled back at her.
So together today like every day, they talked, and laughed,
But today too they would both cry.

This day started gray, a familiar old feeling day,
Where time moved slowly, for in these projects life was dull.
She heard the church bells, as the sun struggled on.
She saw the solar arc turning, yellows starting to come back, yes,
Lighter, richer, brighter to honor of a man, a black man.

Suddenly on this golden afternoon,
a loud rumble sounded over her peoples' songs
heard in fragments from every direction singing their praises
To God, Martin, and to freedom.
Far away, a storm cloud somehow lost, asserted itself to no avail,
it would not get its way now, not today.

She stood up feeling so safe, and oh so very proud.
Most say it was his doing and she believed that.
She picked a tiny flower for her hair,
not disturbing the nature of things
as shots were ringing out somewhere in the distance.
Jack, looked over at her, and simply smiled.

A fiery goodbye flashed from beyond the trees.
The sun was gone, now slowly night crept in.
Winking lights now illuminated her sleepy garden.
Each time she hugged him a goodbye it got easier.
But today she knew they would both cry in each other's arms, and they had.

On her way home she prayed both her garden and Jack
Hoping both would still be there when she woke.
Was that lightning or a gun?
Tonight she would pray for the man who gave her those special seeds,
She had grown a ting garden of hope,
He had made it possible for her to escape some of her reality.

A single tear dropped to the ground while she dreamed.
This was one thing she had earlier shared with the man.
He had seen Martin Luther King, Jr. that day, he said.
Twice he had said to her the seeds were really nothing.
Tonight she would pray for Martin and the white man, known as Jack.


~* Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. today *~
Art: Gracie's Garden - Merryl Jade
~www.allwall.com~


                        
Life is but a magical mystery

© Copyright 2004 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2004-01-19 01:52 PM



You enveloped more than one life, Mysteria,
and you did it with a gentleness that didn't
seem to fit our times at all, back then.

How glad I am
that Jack showed up
in this lovely tribute
to a man who would dream.

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

2 posted 2004-01-19 01:57 PM


Lovely Sharon....absolutely a keeper
Mysteria
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3 posted 2004-01-19 04:20 PM



Somehow I envision this happening then and quite possibly now more, as this man indeed had a dream and a lot of people continue to dream it for him.  Here's to one of the most influential human beings in my time.  Glad you enjoyed it.

"With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together..."
A quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (01-19-2004 05:09 PM).]

iliana
Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434
USA
4 posted 2004-01-19 06:11 PM


Mysteria -- what a wonderful poem you have shared with us!  I will prayer for that garden, too.  Lovely, really, lovely.  
Kristin Eve
Member
since 2004-01-13
Posts 89
On, Canada
5 posted 2004-01-19 06:26 PM


thank you for a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man.

Its a beautiful piece of writing.

"By the time you finish reading this...
You will have finished readding this"

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
6 posted 2004-01-19 06:56 PM


I write this with tears in my eyes. You've given more than just a tribute here, you've given us a story about what it's like to truly care about our fellow man. Thank you.
Mistletoe Angel
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Portland, Oregon
7 posted 2004-01-19 09:05 PM




(tears fall down my cheeks) God Bless You, sweet friend, I without a doubt in my opinion consider Martin Luther King Jr. one of five most important figures of the past 100 years, along with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Mister Rogers, John Lennon perhaps, and the fifth slot a hard one for me to decide! (big angel hugs) I still will forever sare his dream as at this very moment our rights are being suppressed by others and I wish for Martin's vision to be reminded, this is timeless, yay, I love it, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Sharon, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

Mysteria
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8 posted 2004-01-20 12:48 PM


Thank you for honoring a great man by reading what I am sure is common now (or I hope so.)

     
Life is but a magical mystery

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

9 posted 2004-01-20 12:51 PM


Sharon..this is just such a wonderful gift.
I read it yesteday but didnt have time to reply...(still on borrowed comp time)
What a lovely tribute-- the story this shares lights up the day.
We need more poetry like this around here.
keeping this one for sure.

How foolish must man be, not to be impressed by mountains and trees
not to be brought to his knees by the beauty of the sky and sea

Cherokee Lore

Opeth
Senior Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 1543
The Ravines
10 posted 2004-01-20 01:16 PM


Beautifully and elogantly written. An excellent tribute to Dr. King Jr.

Thanks for sharing and it was a  pleasure to read.


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