'65'

Back in Sixty-Five, barely feeling alive, Disease had been giving me trouble Feeling confused,luxury atop the hill, At the bottom, the homeless living in rubble Burning with passion, as was my fashion I battled disease in my mind Becoming quite jaded, easily persuaded To see all things in life as unkind In those “Life Magazine” days always seeing displays Of how bad the black man can be The lies that were spoken, like promises broken, We listened to bigots and learned their ways Martin King is coming the city is humming We’ll meet in Boston’s Columbus Park Three friends and I cut classes that day, Starting out as a lark We joined at the walk with the group that was there, Marching with the crowd, singing out loud, Learning about the word “unfair” History was being made, thank God it was allowed Jesse Jackson was there, a young man with flair, His charisma none could deny He encouraged the people near a South End steeple To join and sing loud enough to reach the sky “In the days of Crispus Attuk there was love and liberty, Now Jim Reeb and Jimmy Jackson the cry out to you and me, As we died in Alabama we must fight ‘till Boston is free, His Truth goes marching on” (to battle hymn of the republic) Doctor Martin L. King did a powerful thing Aimed at transforming lives Blessed by his presence, impressed by that day, May 8, 1965 Because of one event we learned truth forever survives Written October 17th, 2001 © on Oct 17 2001 01:31 PM PST   0 • 9