Celebrating the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank You for the Dream

As we celebrate the legacy

You left behind

The light of your love still shines

The words, I have a dream

Still scream

Resonating beyond the grave

To the roads you have paved.

Though you are gone,

On the strength of your words alone,

One man stood strong

Declaring, “Yes we can”

With the passion and fire

that only you could inspire.

Because of you,

a dream came true

For a nation.

For every little boy and girl

Across the world,

The doors of opportunity opened wide.

So, we can stand with pride

Knowing anyone can climb the mountain

Until they reach the top.

You sparked an eternal flame.

There is no limit to what we can attain.

The legacy you left behind

Has allowed us to shine.

So, today, we just want to say thank you.

Thank you for the victories we have won,

For the triumphs we have seen

Most of all, thank you for the dream.

Your blood, sweat and tears

Brought us through the trying years.

Thank you,

Thank you

For the opportunities you provided,

For the doors that opened wide,

For every road you paved,

For the lives you saved

For the seed you have sown

For the wind you have blown

Beneath our wings.

For all these things,

We thank you.

Because of you, our dreams can come true

You have passed the baton

So, your dreams will live on.

For all that you left behind,

I just want the first thank you to be mine.

Because of you, no man need die

His dreams untried.

You died for that cause.

So, today we pause

And say thank you.

Thank you

For all the firsts achieved

Because you believed

For the lions of hate that were tamed

In your name,

For the victories we have won

For the triumphs we have seen;

For all that it means,

Thank you for the dream.

Thank you for the dream

For all that it means,

Thank you for the dream

copyright 2014 by Patricia Newman-Harris,  Living the Dream

Happy New Year to all!

I don't routinely make New Years resolutions.  I do like to reflect on my last year's mistakes in an effort to do things better.  I see the New Year as our second chance.  Maybe we didn't get some things right last year, but every new day brings an opportunity to do better.  This new year is our chance, our chance growth, our chance for change, our chance to love.

Let's purpose to put a little more love in our hearts this year.  We don't have to wait for Valentine's Day.  After all, what has hating one another accomplished?  If you ask me, hate is overrated.

Hate is Overrated

If you ask me, simply stated,
Hate is overrated.
My grandma used to say,
"You can catch more bees with honey."
When I was younger, I thought that was funny,
But it's true.
It's really not anything new.
Think about it.
What has hate brought the universe?
If you ask me,
Hate cancels out unity
And brings nothing but heartbreak and misery.
Are walls torn down
Where hate abounds?
Are bridges built
Where hate has left it's filth?
No matter how far we seek,
We will never find the "White Cliffs of Dover"
Where hatred has reached it's peak.
I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said before,
But like a mother who is unsure,
I'm just casting the line again
Hoping that I can get through.
That's all I can do.
I hope one day we can learn to build more
bridges than we burn.
Only then can our hearts instinctively yearn for the greater good,
And more, peace love and brotherhood.

Copyright 2015 Patricia-Newman Harris

Happy New Year!