A POETIC & PROSE LITANY TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

 

     M. Lowe, Former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee  (SNCC) Freedom Fighter

                           (REVISED AND UPDATED)

 

     The Man…The Spirit

 

His name was Dr. Martin Luther King;                 

He was a peace-loving human being.

 

                 HIM

 

Preaching peace and love—

A mountain top of a man:-

Martin Luther King.

 

          THE HUMAN DOVE

 

He came bearing a Dream for humanity

Teaching nonviolence, peace, and love

He was a drum major for human equality

Sent down to us by the Creator from above.

 

        THE TEACHING KING

 

King taught

Nonviolent ways

Towards the justice we sought—

That injustice had numbered days:

Give praise!

 

                 KING’S DREAM

 

For too long, The Dream has only been surreal;

One that has been obstructed but not deterred;

In due time, it will become absolutely real!

For too long, The Dream has only been surreal;

With hope, faith, and time, come what God wills;

What God has promised can never be deferred.

For too long, The Dream has been only surreal;

One that has been obstructed but not deterred.

 

THE INSTINCTIVE DRUM MAJOR

 

A drum major of peace,

A drum major for love—

Marching for our release;

 

With guidance from above,

He marched nonviolently:-

Demanding that we be free.

 

He had a worldly dream

Fused with equality

For all like you and me;

 

He loved all human beings

Regardless of their race:-

He marched the justice pace.

 

Serving humanity,

He sought mass unity

And died for you and me:-

 

Serving us, he served God

In whom he put his trust;

In his footprints, let us trod!

 

HALE TO THE DREAM WEAVING KING

 

A mountain of a man was he,

Conqueror of Sisyphus’s failures;

Leading all eyes focused on the top

With echoing bells of freedom

Ringing out over the hills and valleys

Jingling echoed peace, love, and due justice.

 

Though the king he was—yet—he

Lived and died a humble servant;

Serving the living God of healing mercy

In labors of love towards fellow beings:-

And with mission purpose accomplished,

He ascended the eternal heavenly mountain

To that waiting house not made by hands. 

 

However, he left us here with the eternal hope

Of our eyes’ coming liberation prize which

He assured was coming—although not in his lifetime

Nor before the tortuous times yet before us—for God

Had never yet failed to deliver what He has promised.

 

Yes, in the spirit of Jesus, he assured us

That the Dream will become a living vision

And the living vision will become a total reality;

Indeed, he assured us that God is a God of deliverance

And has promised us our rightful place in Earth’s Promised

Land and that despite any Pandora Box-like pandemonium

To come, God remains in charge and will eventually send

The Sun and Moon of His promised Bright Tomorrows:-

 

Thus, in these present victimizing dark times of

Catastrophic and calamitous uncertainties—as we 

Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day (this year),

Let our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits be fired up

By the fueling words he poured out to us over nearly

Half a century ago (1963) and still remain as igniting

Today as they were so many, many moons ago:

 

“God…gives the interior resources to face the storms

and problems of life…Let this affirmation be our ringing cry.

It will give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future.

It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward

Stride towards the city of freedom.
 

“When our days become dreary with low hovering clouds

And our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, 

Let us remember that there is a great benign power in

The universe whose name is God, and he is able to make 

A way out of now, and transform dark yesterdays into

Bright tomorrows…”

 

            (Indeed…)

 

As we commemorate The Day of our modern-day prophet,

Martin Luther King Jr., may his spirit be the wind in the sail

Of our precious tinder life raft—in today’s rough and turbulent 

Seal of life—that we may in Peace, Love, and Truth, reach our

Redemptive shores and ascend beyond Sisyphus-like efforts

To that mountain top where we all shall come to live in Peace,

Love, and due Equality that should rein in a world of the 

Children of the One Blood of our One God—in the blessed Trinty.

 

        A SONNET TO THE MAN WHO WAS A KING OF PEACE AND  LOVE

 

On a cold balcony in the shadow of evening

Stood the man known to as Martin Luther King.

His weary body—a stranger to rest—filled with anxiousness

And resolved to march on ‘til his dream’s reality would rein.

Suddenly a death-cracking sound pierced the stilled air

And a murderous craving bullet found its fleshly feast.

The alarmed world became filled with great despair—

Ole death had summoned and sent a racist deranged beast.

Our king had fallen but his faith-filled dream had not;

Undying faith has always been stronger than hate and bigotry:-

Let there be no doubt that nothing can discourage the faithful lot;

For in and with amazing grace, we will worldly-wise become free:

Let us not wallow in apathetic despair that our king has passed;

Long live the King!  Long live the dream! His spirit is free at last!

 

    KING’S DAY… 

 

Martin Luther King

Dream deferred but not deterred:-

Reality lives…

 

It’s Martin Luther King Day—

Dream deferred but not deterred:-

Liberty is on the way;

His speech, not just words heard.

 

The King is dead

But long lives his dream

Dreaming to the reality

We must ensure is coming…

 

Reflecting Jesus

In a labor of love life—

Martin Luther King:-

                     MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

                                    (PROLOGUE)

 

     In the Editor’s Introduction to the book, A TESTAMENT OF HOPE, James M. Washington writes, “When [Martin Luther King, Jr.] was martyred in 1968, America lost it most effective prophet.  Oppressed people, both at home and abroad, lost their most articulate voice.  His prophetic words mirrored a twentieth-century America that had acquired global power, but one that had also sacrificed some of its most treasured values on the altar of institutional racism, economic injustice, and international influence.”

     Washington goes on to say—and I concur—that those of us who were [Dr.] King’s contemporaries and his sympathizers [still believe] that Dr. King’s leadership reflected the spirit of the times—the 1960’s—a powerful, modern decade in the career of the struggle for freedom in America.   

      Its been over a half century since the assassination Dr. King. And though some of the same conditions at the time of his death remain, we all believed then and also now, that God was and remains on our side then and now In the struggle against injustice and inequality; and that the life of Dr. King and the movement he led and continues to inspire today, indeed remains a “…[powerful] testament of hope.” 

     A long time ago, a great Black poet, Sterling Brown, wrote a beautiful poem called “Strong Men”; and the theme of this poem he took from a great White poet, Carl Sandburg: “Strong Men Just Keep Coming On…”  In an attempt to put into perspective the life of Dr. King and the movement he inherited and led, allow me to share this poem with you.

 

                                                            POEM

 

   STRONG MEN, WRITTEN BY THAT GREAT BLACK BART, STERLING BROWN:

        THEY DRAGGED YOU FROM YOU HOMELAND,

        THEY CHAINED YOU IN COFFLES,

        THEY HUDDLED YOU SPOON-FASHIONED IN FILTY HATCHES,

        THEY SOLD YOU TO GIVE A FEW MEN EASE.

 

        THEY BROKE YOU IN LIKE OXEN,

        THEY SCOURGED YOU,

        THEY BRANDED YOU,

        THEY MADE YOUR WOMEN BREEDERS,

        THEY SWELLED YOUR NUMBERS WITH BASTARDS...

        THEY TAUGHT YOU WITH THE RELIGION THEY DISGRACED.

 

        YOU SANG:

            KEEP A-INCHIN' ALONG

            LAK A PO' INCH WORM...

 

        YOU SANG:

            BYE AND BYE

            I'M GONNA LAY DOWN DIS HEABY LOAD...

 

        YOU SANG:

            WALK TOGETHER CHILLEN,

            DONTCHA GIT WEARY...

                THE STRONG MEN KEEP A-COMIN' ON

                THE STRONG MEN GIT STRONGER.

 

        THEY POINT WITH PRIDE TO THE ROADS YOU BUILT FOR THEM,

        THEY RIDE IN COMFORT OVER THE RAILS YOU LAID FOR THEM.

        THEY PUT HAMMERS IN YOUR HAND

        AND SAID --- DRIVE SO MUCH BEFORE SUNDOWN.

 

        YOU SANG:

            AIN'T NO HAMMAH

            IN DIS LAN',

            STRIKES LAK MINE, BEBBY,

            STRIKES LAK MINE.

 

        THEY COOPED YOU IN THEIR KITCHENS,

        THEY PENNED YOU IN THIER FACTORIES,

        THEY GAVE YOU THE JOBS THEY WERE TO GOOD FOR,

        THEY TRIED TO GUARANTEE HAPPINESS TO THEMSELVES

        BY SHUNTING DIRT AND MISERY TO YOU.

 

        YOU SANG:

            ME AN' MUH BABY GONNA SHINE, SHINE

            ME AN' MUH BABY GONNA SHINE.

                THE STRONG MEN KEEP A-COMIN' ON

                THE STRONG MEN GIT STRONGER....

 

        THEY BOUGHT OFF SOME OF YOUR LEADERS

        YOU STUMBLED, AS BLIND MEN WILL...

        THEY COAXED YOU , UNWONTEDLY SOFT-VOICED....

        YOU FOLLOWED AWAY.

        THEN LAUGHED AS USUAL.

 

        THEY HEARD THE LAUGHT AND WONDERED;

        UNCOMFORTABLE,

        UNADMITTING A DEEPER TERROR....

            THE STRONG MEN KEEP A-COMIN' ON

            GITTIN' STRONGER....

 

        WHAT, FROM THE SLUMS

        WHERE THEY HAVE HEMMED YOU,

        WHAT, FROM THE TINY HUTS

        THEY COULD NOT KEEP FROM YOU ---

        WHAT REACHES THEM

        MAKING THEM ILL AT EASE, FEARFUL?

        TODAY THEY SHOUT PROHIBITION AT YOU

        "THOU SHALT NOT THIS"

        "THOU SHALT NOT THAT"

        "RESERVED FOR WHITES ONLY"

        YOU LAUGH.

 

        ONE THING THEY CANNOT PROHIBIT ---

            THE STRONG MEN... COMING ON

            THE STRONG MEN GITTIN' STRONGER

            STRONG MEN ....

            STRONGER.

      And let me add that where ever there have been—and still are—strong black men, there has been and will always be strong black women!  Strong black women standing hand–in-hand with their strong black men.  Often—when necessary—there behind their strong black men, pushing them onward;  and when given divine wisdom and motivation— out there in front of their strong black men—shouting “Come on baby…come on baby…we got this!”

     The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was indeed a strong Black man that just kept coming on—a world historical figure that entered into the spotlight on the stage of history just at the right time “…and responded with a blueprint for what [this country] could become if it trusted its democratic legacy—A legacy that is mirrored and reflected in the words, [we are all] …created equal and are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This, Dr. King made clear in his famous “I Have a Dream” oration which was delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.

     It is indeed […altogether fitting and proper…] that on this day that speech is replayed and recited during the many King Day Celebrations.  Yet, there is one thing about Dr. King that I feel that many of us tend to overlook or fail to recognize.  And that is this.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a minister of the Gospels; he was a modern day disciple—chosen by God to be his humble and faithful servant.

     It is in this perspective—that for me—as a young Civil Rights worker for SNCC in 1968, that I feel that Dr. King gave his greatest oration—the prophetic sermon he gave at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, 4 February, 1968.  The subject he chose for his sermon that  day was The Drum Major Instinct. For those who do not know what a Drum Major is, let me briefly explain.  The Drum Major is that person who you see leading the marching band onto the field at half time during a football game—that individual you see leading the Marching Band in those special parades.   Would if you would, allow me to share with you, some excerpts from that sermon?   

 

     At the beginning of this sermon, Dr. King pointed out that he would like to use as a subject from which to preach, The Drum Major Instinct.  And he proceeded to point out that the scripture foundation of this sermon had been taken from Saint Mark. What follows are excerpts  from that  sermon:

 

     “And James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him saying, ‘Master, we would that you shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.’  And he said unto them, ‘What would ye that I should do for you?  And they said unto him, ‘Grant unto us that we may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand in glory.’  But Jesus said unto them, ‘Ye know not what ye ask.  Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  And they said unto him, ‘We can.’ And Jesus said unto them…to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.’”

 

    Thus began Dr. King’s sermon “…We must understand that we have some of the same James and John qualities.  And there is, deep down within all of us, an instinct.  It is a kind of drum major instinct—a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first…this quest for recognition, this desire for attention, this desire for distinction is [a] basic impulse, [a] basic drive of human life—this drum major instinct.”

      

     “The drum major instinct can lead…one to feel that because he has some training, he’s a little better than that person that doesn’t, or because he has some economic security, that he’s a little better than the person who doesn’t have it…that’s the uncontrolled, perverted use of the drum major instinct…”

     

     “And think of what has happened in history as a result of this perverted use of the drum major instinct.  It has lead to the most tragic prejudice, the most tragic expressions of man’s inhumanity to man.”

 

    He went on to remind us that “...[Jesus says to us]…You want to be great.  You want to be important.  You want to be significant.  Well you ought to be.  If you’re going to be my disciple, you must be…Yes, don’t give up this instinct.  It’s a good instinct if you use it right.  It’s a good instinct if you don’t distort it and pervert it.  Don’t give it up.  Keep feeling the need for being important.  Keep feeling the need for being first.  But I want you to be first in love.  I want you to be first in moral excellence.  I want you to be first in generosity.  That is what I want you to do.”

 

     Continuing, Dr. King went on to say that “...[Jesus has given]…us a new norm of greatness.  If you want to be important—wonderful.  If you want to be recognized—wonderful.  If you want to be great—wonderful.  But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  That’s your new definition of greatness.  And this morning, the thing that I like about it…by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great.  Because everybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.  You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.  You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve.  You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.  And you can be that servant.”

          

   In bringing this sermon to a close, Dr. King left us these impregnating words.  “Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life’s final common denominator—that something we call death.  We all think about it.  And every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral.  And I don’t think of it in a morbid sense.  Every now and then I ask myself, ‘What is it that I would want said?...”

     “If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral.  And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long.  Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say.  ‘Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn’t important…”

 

      Finally, with a sincerity that was not only heard—but also spiritually felt—Dr. King said this:  “I’d like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.  I’d like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr, tried to love somebody.  I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question.  I want you to be able to say that day, that I did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day, that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked.  I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison.  I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.”

     “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness.  And all of the other shallow things will not matter.  I won’t have any money to leave behind.  I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind.  But I just want to leave a committed life behind.”

     “And that’s all I want to say…if I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, then my living shall not have been in vain.  If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, if I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, if I can spread the message as the master taught, then my living will not be in vain.”

 

     My beloved brothers and sisters—let us—with audacious equine hope and mustard seed faith—continue to nourish Dr. King’s dream—insuring that his living was indeed, not in vain.  Let us continue to rise to the mountaintop…looking out and down into the valley of peace, love, and justice  To God be the glory!

Peace and Love, mlowe5.