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@TheosTrek, August 28 1963, Free at Last!, History, Martin Luther King, Memories, Original Poetry, vision, Washington DC
A man of ordinary features
But extraordinary presence
I could see his silhouette traced upon
Abraham Lincoln’s memorial;
I watched this man of average height
Towering over the murmuring masses,
taller than anyone present there,
on the podium or in the crowd.
As I watched his gaze, I turned to look –
What did he see? Could I see it too?
Washington’s Monument glittered before him,
But I saw only him, perfectly reflected,
A mirror-image of courage in the
reflecting pool.
But he was not looking there;
He was looking up and out;
He had fixed his gaze far beyond
What most of us could see.
Echoing, rebounding from
every direction, his voice, his passion
poured out, rippling the once-still
waters, stirring the crowd. Cry Freedom!
Declare your sacred liberty. Free at last!
He knew, he saw, what so few
Had yet perceived: What had been denied,
Will be bestowed; what had been dreamed,
Will be realized. He knew it. He had seen
The Glory of the Lord and understood –
He did not need to wait for it to come,
He knew it was already with us;
Just one thing was needed:
Turn on the light. Look up and out.
See for yourself.
Declare Freedom! Be free at last.
**********
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been 83 years old yesterday. His spirit is still calling out for us to turn on the light. He was an ordinary man of extraordinary vision, purpose and presence. He carried with him, always, enough. . .
(wc 254)
Reflections From a Cloudy Mirror 
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Always enough, and then some I’d say…Vision and fulfillment..Amen
When I grow up I want to be able to write like you. 😉 Thanks for the inspiration Paula, love you madly, *Mwah*
You are very kind, Mands! As for growing up and writing like me: 1st – you are one of the true grown-ups in this world already, and 2nd – you are right, you do not write like me! you write like you, and that is truly great!
Love to you and Jess and the rest of the Swinburnes!
Hi Paula, your comment gave me time to reflect and ponder this past week-end… and to write more deeply than I have been, it was wonderful… and I played with photos. So I have pasted this all into my personal journal, including your poem please ~ and please let me know if that’s Ok. *Smile*
Dave found out the type of spider inhabiting our patio… and she has grown so much it’s incredible, she also had a visitor on Sunday that she took great exception to.
Links: Golden Orb-Web Spider [ http://www.womanofworth.co.za/blog/?p=9594 ] and Courting Death [ http://www.womanofworth.co.za/blog/?p=9700 ]
Love and Blessings, always
Mands
A lovely tribute.
Lovely tribute from the heart, Paula!
So much accomplished in such little time.
MLK’s later sermons reveal that he knew his time was short. His last sermon was not planned but the congregation in Memphis demanded that he speak. Though exhausted he preached passionately, extemporaneously, from the heart and it was as though he was transfixed, as if he were like Moses, looking over into the Promised Land knowing he wouldn’t live to enter it, but assured that his people would enter it triumphantly, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last!” Progress has been made, no doubt, but we still have a long way to go to see that dream fully realized. He proclaimed that night he was unafraid to face the future or to die. Would that we all had that degree of confidence and utter faith in God.
Hubs
“When we all get there – what a day of rejoicing that will be!”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Another I like: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
He may be one reason why I always am willing to speak my mind. 😉
Of course, Dr. Seuss also has something to do with it:
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. ~ Dr. Seuss
Both were shining examples of ways to face hurdles, get over them, and live a forthright, honest, and caring life, while remaining true to your own calling.
Will there be another voice like his? I hope so…
I do too. Until s/he comes along, we’ll have to take up th slack. . .
Very interesting point by Rose Mary Boehm. Thank goodness he at least had the time that he did on earth.
Amen!
I know this is not an ok thing to express, and I am not advocating assassinations. Clearly not. But with 20:20 hindsight, by becoming a martyr he probably brought the cause forward faster than had he lived. That doesn’t console anyone, especially not his family. But those who silence voices should think twice before they murder and thereby enhance the very cause they try to suppress.
I believe that you are in many ways, sadly, right. However, there is the consolation of knowing that he was heralded for a considerable period of time before he was murdered. I believe that had he lived, his words would still be heard and quoted today.