Best Martin Luther King Jr. Poems
it was the sixties
we were young
we were going to change the world
spin it like a basketball on our finger
take the three point shot
win the game
we had great leaders
john, robert, martin...
the planet was singing
with the purity of a four year old
...
The ants go marching two by two;
The little one stops to tie his shoe,
...
then
it started raining bullets
our optimism soured
slightly at first
and the grassy knoll
and the sniper
and the magic bullet
john was shot
jackie squirmed
we sat on the edge of our seats
The ants go marching four by four;
The little one stops to shut the door,
John F. Kennedy was assassinated
The ants go marching five by five;
The little one stops to take a dive,
years had passed, five
look before you dive
the civil rights movement gathered
to fight for their God given rights
the right to be treated as humans
exactly that...humans...no more no less.
to listen to the man who had said
"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon
which cuts without wounding and ennobles
the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."
the man who stood on the hill speaking
"I have a dream today!"
The ants go marching seven by seven;
The little one stops to pray to heaven,
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Martin Luther King Jr. was shot
died
and my God it rained
it rained salt
as a nation black and white cried
The ants go marching nine by nine;
The little one stops to check the time,
time for the rise of Bobby
Hoorah! Hoorah!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
i wish he could have ran faster than the bullets
they murdered John's brother
Robert F. Kennedy was dead
the sixties where almost finished
and i wondered
if the world would ever be the same
again
I marched away buried my face into the ground
To get out of my pain.
great leaders lost
words that radiated
radiate hope
America was
the envy of the world
it's two thousand sixteen
and we have sunk so deep into the dirt
i know we can't Trump this disaster
have you ever heard of fools gold
we have a choice
our lives count
remember the ants
nature's banner is blowing in the wind
don't make
the little one shout
"THE END!!"
March 16 2016
armand
Words would fail me if I might assay
To articulate the courage of this man.
The numerous facets of his dossier
Are subject for song in a distant land.
Awakened in youth from serene dreams
By the melodious blast of Israel’s horn.
Tall standing received earth’s esteems,
Accepting God’s charge wherefore he was born.
His marble image cleaves the bluest sky,
And his halo is now a crown about his brow.
His peace of mind earth can no longer deny,
For he has now fulfilled his earthly vow.
It can only suppose with the midnight of the mind,
What may be reason’s welcome morning star.
One day he may return even more divine,
With a holier task from God who reigns from afar.
There’s no thunder heard from Sinai’s height,
And we see no parting waves at Jordan’s bank.
We have followed no truer soldier in our darkest night,
And now are marching on bravely in file and rank.
Rolling on in faith toward the welcome dawn,
The good fight won he’s earned the honor of Moses.
Now trekking the soul’s desert to the divine throne,
He follows God’s light up the street of yellow roses.
Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead
But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent
He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love
He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes
A life so young a life cut short
By the wicked in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call
To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live
I was that eleven year old boy so many years ago and still remember that moment I heard and told my father the news...
We even visited the tragic site where this great man lost his life that day in Memphis. The thing is he knew his days were numbered but refused to give up on equality for all people...
Happy Birthday my friend, my hero...long live your memory.
Why can’t we be judged by the content of our character?
Are we now racist, because of white privilege and black lives matter?
This is our new wall, racism is still dividing,
these two profound statements are creating bitter chatter.
Dr. King lost his life because of his dream in 63,
segregation is what this great man envisioned would one day leave.
The architects of our Republic intended all men to be free,
our declaration of independence is what we now need to believe.
As a people we need to remember, all of our positive achievements,
we need to move forward and continue to gain ground.
We need to focus on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are all created equal, this evident truth has got to be found.
We all need to sit down at the table of brotherhood.
Everything we do right now, needs to be done together.
We need to erase all of our anger and live here as one people
if we join our hearts, there is no storm we can’t weather.
August 7,2020
*inspired by Dr. Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream speech*
Strand Completely New (19) Any form, Any Theme Poetry Contest
March like a southern university battle of the bands bayou classic styling drum-
mAjor for peace - bending over backwards on freedoms field of racial equality.
a dReamer is sleeping - but we as a people have awakened to remember and live
your dream as our reality.
you Taught us how to fight and win with
non vIolence as a movemnt.
oh my a Nobel peace prizeman
struggLed peacefully initiating
lunch coUnter sit ins - encountering violence.
even jail Time,
evil water Hoses, police dogs barking up
the wrong trEe.
this is a reveRend ordained by god!
a clergyman taKing jim crow off the menu.
his people got tIred of
trying to constaNtly stomach injustice.
rosa parks did not Get up and settle for
an indigestive preJudice plate of racist gout causing jim crow
thank god her feet weRe swelling with hurt - she stayed seated and broke
a discriminating plate.
Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead
But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent
He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love
He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes
A life so young a life cut short
By the wickedness in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call
To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live
to the greatest valiant leader of our time and the most sanctified of Men let me say I hope you can and do perceive the love and wishes that many feel for you happy happy birthday to you an advocate of many little hearts and minds I lift up my eyes with a wonder and amazement for the dream you left behind for us all happy happy birthday, Sir your strength, your will, your sacrifices and your noble dream carry hope and encouragement for all who can hear the words to I Have A Dream (Poems) happy happy birthday To a Southern Baptist Minister who preached It like it was and told it, like it should be happy happy birthday to a Gentleman of freedom as unique as only God could have made thee
To the " Greatest valiant leader of our time "
and " the most sanctified of Men"
let me say
I hope,
you can and do perceive
the love and wishes
that many feel for you
" Happy Happy Birthday " to you
An advocate
of many little hearts and minds
I lift up my eyes.
with a wonder and amazement
for the dream you left behind,
for us all
'Happy Happy Birthday, Sir "
" Your strength,
Your will,
Your sacrifices "
and " Your Noble Dream "
carry hope and encouragement
for all who can hear the words to
"I Have A Dream" (Poems)
" Happy Happy Birthday "
"To a Southern Baptist Minister "
who preached " It like it was "
and told it," Like it should be "
" Happy Happy Birthday "
to a " Gentleman of freedom "
as " Unique as only God could have made thee "
by:verlecia l. fields
aka:lyricvixen
Dr. Martin's dream is a dream for many generations
Past, present and future… Life is about hope, compassion
Love, freedom and justice. It's not asking for too much
Because human lives are precious and priceless. As such
We were all created in the same manners. No one got
More, no one deserved less. There are three levels in the lot
Birth, live and death. We all must go through the same process
Health is paramount and wealth is secondary or temporary
We all will leave earth one day, soon. Hoping we're all blessed
To remain on earth for a long time. A dream is a reality
That will or will not come depending on the dedication
On the focus and on the resiliency of the participants
We all dream for a better future for our families, friends
Even for perceived enemies. Hope is in the air, like flying ants
Wishing to land on a fertile sugar cane field. Dr. King, our Hero
Is a man with many names: Dr. Martin, Dr. King, a great fighter
An activist, a superman, a martyr, etc. He was the older brother
That we dream of being with us in time of trouble, at a low
Point of our lives. Dr. King was an amazing inspiration to a world
Filled with backstabbers, hypocrites, racists, maniacs and criminals
Dr. King's dream is well and alive for many generations. Animals
Will never rule the universe. Human beings cannot be obviously curled
By a bunch of so-called right wing individuals. Common sense will
Always prevail. Love will always win. The racists and the haters ‘will
Shall fail. Positive attitudes will always win. Brother Martin's dream
Will live forever. All men and women were created to enjoy the ice cream
Equally, to be free to fight against unfairness, selfishness, racism, bigotry
And injustice. Dr. King's dream and inspiration will live forever, for eternity.
P.S. I write what I want to write about and say what I want to say. I am a free and fair man.
Copyright © January 2020, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved.
Hébert Logerie is the author of several poetry collections.
South Africa salutes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr!
They gunned you down,
on this April day,
all those years ago,
yet you live, you breathe!
They gunned you down,
just as they did Chris Hani and M.K. Gandhi,
and they failed, as they always will,
for they can never kill,
your dream, your ideals.
Your dream, your ideals,
live, and breathe,
still!
Take a gander
at the zebras.Contemplate
its being,its image and you will visualize
and realize the message of Martin
Luther King Jr.Tonight count zebras
instead of sheep and you will
have his dream.
Open your mind, as I rekindle an old fire,
of a great man's dream, a great man's desire
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream he said,
in an era, in which many people he had led
He envisioned a new world in his minds eye,
dying for that vision, yet his dream didn't die
Dreams of a new world where kindness is not new
Where loving thy neighbor was, the thing to do
Every culture, and color could live as one
No wars to fight, because all have been won
Different is normal, no longer being bad
None fear the unknown, the knowledge is had
No one is perfect, and none feels hate
Each of us are in control, of our very own fate
With all men being equal, with no more unjust
Transforming, all mankinds hatred into trust
A great man dreamed, dying showing us how
Only we can achieve his dream for him now
An older poem posted now for M.L.K. JR's birthday
Reverend King, one of the most influential black leaders
To ever march for civil rights and justice
Was born to a minister and a teacher of school.
Educated to where he earned his P.H.D.
Becoming a pastor marching against what was unfair and cruel.
Leading a boycott to protest bus segregation
He gained national prominence in 1955 and 56.
As he preached and marched for freedom for all
He was jailed, threatened, spat on, and beaten
As for peaceful demonstration he would call.
Marching to Washington, D.C. in 1963
He was one of the leaders of faith
Voicing concern for the plight of the poor.
Soon there after, he was killed by a sniper
In Memphis, supporting workers rights and more.
King dedicated one of his books to his children
Praising God and praying for mankind’s future
With words for all to prayerfully remember.
To be judged, not by color, but by character
Shunning violence never to surrender.
Dr. King will be remembered down through history
As a man whose mission in life was the enrichment of others.
“A Soldier For The Lord” with goodness of heart
Risking everything for man’s freedom and equality.
From his legacy of self-sacrifice we must refuse to part.
By Tom Zart
We need another Martin Luther King
Today now more than ever
Someone to take the faithful leap
That will bring us all together
Who sees the plight of man for what it is
All one race, no color
Where together in harmony we all shall stand
Sister to sister, brother to brother
A leader with a vision
With open arms and callused hands
That will peacefully fight for all that's right
Over every square inch of this land
To lift us out of this world in doubt
Not silent on what really matters
Raising our voices in joyful sound
A world where we love each other
One who hears the righteous call
And says here I am send me
For freedoms sake above it all
Like Martin Luther King
They looked for an equalizer for so long
Their freedoms were caged
They were treated as less human
Their abilities suppressed
Then, on January 15, 1929, a man was sent
He boarded the flight for freedom
He passed thru the sky of racism
Saw the gathering of thick clouds
Knew the thunder would blast someday
Yet he walked thru the storms to free his people
He appreciated God for his creation—
For diversity and various colors of creation
He prepared the ladder of equality
And placed it on Freedom Avenue
He knew racism held the gun
To fulfill the dream of equal rights and justice
For all peoples was his so focus
He saw it clearly in the Scripture
All men were made from one source—
Brought into being free and equal
He sacrificed his life for the truth to prevail
His speeches out weighted racism all over America
The fruit of his labor—reality of his historic dream
Is the 44th president of America toady!
Sitting there was fine.
And yet he did not know why.
Thoughts ran through his head