Monday, January 16, 2012

Remembering Dr. King, the Bearer of Dreams

A Black Child Remembers Dr. King
by Sheria Reid

He came bearing dreams,
a drum major for truth,
peeling back layers to reveal
the beauty of our blackness.

Mama says I can't go to Selma,
so I find it on a map,
a small dot that may as well be in Timbuktu.
Montgomery is out of the question. 

I march around the back yard
singing "We Shall Overcome,"
imagining that I feel the heat rising 
from black pavement
and the hoses washing me down.
      We shall overcome someday...

Let's play freedom march!
Slyly I entice my younger brother and sister.
You can lead the march!
But my legs are longer.

I follow him
marching ever onward,
a dark skin black child
reaching for the dream,
believing deep in my heart
     we shall overcome
     we shall overcome
     we shall overcome someday...

4 comments:

mrs.missalaineus said...

this is beautiful and moving-

xxalainaxx

Bea said...

I loved your poem honoring Dr. King... you should travel to Montgomery... I was there three years ago... so much history, stories are heartbreaking.

Just came by to say hi! because I'm trying to get back into my blog. I'm hoping to reconnect to my blogger friends...it's been two years, Sheria,since my last posting.

I'm trying to prioritize so I can do the things that used to make me happy, and writing is one of them.

THinking about you today!! Love your blog here... I'll be browsing for awhile in between looking for new art projects.

love you, my friend!
bea

Yasmin said...

I knew I had to visit today, Sheria your words have depth, and we should remember to judge a person by the content of their character.

A fitting tribute to a great man.

Yasmin
xx

Leslie Parsley said...

And you've been marching ever since and yes, we shall overcome. What a great poem and a wonderful tribute to the man who inspired you to be what you are.