A King’s Birthday Celebration ‘2007’

Written by Phyllis Goodlette

A day for celebration

Not for family alone

But for the World and the Nation,

In Like-Spirits’ mind, heart and bone

Ring a song with a familiar beat

Which in times of Peaceful Prosperity

Seems muffled as if in retreat

Let Poverty, injustice, war, discrimination,

Rear it’s  head and point it’s fingers,

The song and beat with renewed exultation

Bring Old and New Like –minded Singers

Together in Marching Celebration

Of the Master Teachers’ birth,

Those who’ve reached the Degree

And teach each of us our worth.

Thus allowing us to see

Combing our good words, thoughts and actions

Control the kind World we want.

 Buddha , Jesus, Mohamed , Ghandi , Factions

Names, Actions and Ideas many would taunt

Names Mentioned, others Known and Unknown Each

Have given proof of Changes a Life can bring

When lived in Universal Service to Teach

The best training for the true Title King!!!

This Monday in Portland   Oregon

We Marched, shouted and sang along

With the rest of the World we came together

Challenged by War, World Conditions and Weather

Wonderful how negative events bring together people of differing birth

Whose Sex, Gender, Race and religion show their True Worth

Situations, Circumstances, Conditions of Life

Nationality, Ethnicity, Culture and Political Strife

Colored the crowd as a palette of paints,

Creating a Montage of blessed people and cursing saints

From an overflowing crowd at Sisters of the Road

To St. Mary’s Schools’ auditoriums’ full load

Passing watching shoppers and traffic along the route

Policepersons observing all of us  about.

For some the March   is an inconvenience

For many who can join it’s a rewarding experience.

The comradery  , warmth and renewed commitment

Between Marchers’, a rewarding and tangible sentiment.

The Speaker, Willie Baptist, with his movie and message

Enlivened our hearts, minds and enlarged our visage

Putting us each into the larger picture’s motion

Giving us a view of challenge and of solution

Educating us to the part we might play

To extend the celebration of Dr. King’s Birthday

With our country’s direction, we may not agree

It gives us the Challenge of being free

For by stint of United Effort and Gratitude

We maintain Freedom by opposing with a peaceful positive attitude

Thank You Dear King for giving Your Birthdays

So Your Spirit in us can Come Forth and be Praised!

Dignity Village Inc. with its self governing

Community of diverse people, prioritizing

Compassion, shelter, safety, and transition:

With plenty of work for everyone, with everyone

With respect and out spokenness fostering

Social change, individual growth.

For Homeless people, thus celebrate and exemplify

The Dr, Martin Luther King Concept and Dream

In Everday Life.