He Was Just a Man

[Tinker]

Just a Man

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King;
just a man, but a man, whose works we sing.
A man with the gift to inspire with words,
move us with ideas that need to be heard.
African-American born in the south,
preacher's son with a rebellious mouth.
Early on, refusing to answer to "boy",
joined church choir, sang with fervor and joy.
Husband and father, nurtured love in his home,
but heart held so much more, told in this tome.
Called to be a blazing Baptist minister,
preaching equality, nothing sinister.
Dr. King taught not to strike out in protest,
but, sit-ins, speaking up in the process.
Fiery, 50s leader of Civil Right's Movement,
forcing an errant nation to improvement.
His speeches and actions still push us today,
his work is not over, but someday, we pray.
Too soon he was murdered for shining his beam.
He was just a man, but a man with a Dream.
                              ~~Judi Van Gorder

Genre: Encomium
Verse Form: Mathnawi

[tonyv]

A very nicely expressed tribute, Judi. And also, it was always nice to have this day off in Massachusetts where I grew up and went to school.

Tony

[Tinker]

Thanks Tony,  I too had the day off.  It was the least I could do.  ~~smile~~

~~Judi