Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality… Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The slatted sky shows bars of light and gray
this rearview mirror filled with returning light
history chases, pursues relentless
while trees wave, and houses watch in passing
the news is full of old things,
sacrifices of saints, deaths of heroes.
Who listens to their words, who notes?
Who keeps their dreams of justice?
Linking arms we’ve sung our hopes, like gods
wanting the power to be ours
to change the world each day
for good, for glory, for our salvation
Each morning we put it on, determination —
great shield and buckler. We’ve just to hold.
I love the imagery in the opening lines –
The slatted sky shows bars of light and gray
this rearview mirror filled with returning light
history chases, pursues relentless
while trees wave, and houses watch in passing
Very nice
Thanks!
Mary Beth,
This poem is powerful, from the sounds that drive its rhythm to the images that crowded my head. It morphed gracefully from weather and landscape to history and marching for rights along the years with hope and intention to the daily task of facing what’s not right, what’s not truth. Determination indeed!