Today I Read a Story

Today I read a story.
It brought tears to my eyes.

Some may ask why, but how can I not cry

When people are led to the slaughter;

When someone’s mother, father, son, or daughter

Dies without reason?                           

When death becomes more than a season,

And there is no just cause,

I feel I have to do more than pause

It is hard to understand the human mind.

I’ve lived through so much hatred in my lifetime.

I wonder, will we ever see Martin’s dream come to pass?

If we could but find that path,

To being free at last.

If no more lives were lost

If there were no more Halocausts,

Or Ruwandas to cloud our history.

If we didn’t feel the need for designated places

Or division among the races

Oh what a day it would be.

Oh what a day it.

Oh what a day it would be

For you and me.

If we could tear down the walls that keep us apart

If we could open our hearts,

And allow universal peace,

The wars would soon cease.

Will we ever reach the mountain top?

Will the hatred ever stop?

Will we ever learn to think on a higher plane?

Will we ever realize that we are all the same?

Will we ever know what it means
To live Martin’s dream?

When will we tire of the death and destruction created

By the spread of prejudice and hate?

Will people like Immaculee ever be able to say,
This is the day that the stone of hate was rolled away?

Today I read a story that brought tears to my eyes.

Some may ask why, but how can I not cry?

How can I not ask the question why

When innocent people die?

copyright by P. Newman-Harris

You can read the story about Immaculee Ilibagiza in her book, "Left to Tell"

Today

Today corruption is confused with justice

Right is mistaken for wrong

And every fiber of morality seems to be gone

There is no respect for human life,

People will take your life without thinking twice

Everyone wants a solution

For moral pollution

But no one wants to take responsibility

For our lack of morality

What used to matter doesn't matter any more

Everyone wants an easy score

Let the stones fall where they may

All we can do is pray

There is no other way

We can make it through the day

Family is no longer our priority

Children are running wild and free.

We are warring for oil

And killing the innocent to divide the spoils.

In foreign nations,

Disease is running rapid amid violence and mass annihilation.

Devastation and deterioration 

Rule without moderation.

It's sometimes hard to understand

The heart of man

Politicians in America don't seem to care

About the nation's welfare.

Republicans and Democrats

Are in full scale attack.

Blame for every mistake is being placed on the Presidents back

Simply because he's black.

They are trying to revoke

The right to vote

On the down low

While saying it ain't so.

They'd rather see the nation burn

Than see a black President serve another term

Today corruption is confused with justice

Right is mistaken for wrong

And every fiber of morality seems to be gone

Let the stones fall where they may

All we can do is pray

There is no other way

We can make it through the day.

copyright P. Newman-Harris