What Would You Say? Celebrating the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

It seems like only yesterday

You were taken away

You tried to prepare our hearts and our minds

For what you knew would be trying times.

You never stopped believing that if we did not stop,

One day, we would reach the mountain top.

If you were here today,

What would you say?

Would you be surprised to discover that violence is on the increase,

That we have failed at world peace?

Would your eyes fill with tears

Over the wasted years?

How would you feel to see that after risking your neck,

Some of us have failed to cash the check

Placed in our hands.

Would you understand why others chose to die
rather than live in the promised land?

You wanted us to know your dream,

See your dream,

Feel your dream,

Live your dream,

As our own legacy

To our families.

You spent your life trying to right the world’s wrongs

So we would have a place to belong.

Your vision was not just for some,

It was for everyone.

If you were here today,

What would you say?

To see us throwing it all away.

What would you say?
copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Happy King Day

                                                                                                                              

It's Time to Live the Dream

I would like to share this essay as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   It was written just after the election of President Obama.  

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming.  For almost ten years, I’ve been writing poems about racial unity, believing that one day, we’d put our differences aside and walk together with pride,  I was beginning to believe I’d never see that day come into fruition.    Then, on November 4, 2008, America did just that and elected the first Black American President.    It is a day that will go down in history.  The swearing in of America’s first Black President will signify the  beginning of a new era for our country.  For black America, it will also be the realization of a dream.    Never since the death of Dr. King, have I seen so much hope in the eyes of  Black Americans.    Like Dr King, our President has the ability not only to inspire hope, but to inspire people into action.    It is, indeed, a gift from God.  So many people are talking about how having a black American president in office has inspired them like never before.  Even the men holding  up the wall at the corner liquor store, are talking of something more.  If there ever was a time for black America to do more it is now.   Now is not the time to rest on our laurels, so to speak.  Our work has just begun.  Winning the election is only the beginning of  President Obama’s job.    We can’t expect him to change the world overnight, but we can expect him to do his best.   Just like we expect a lot from him, we should expect a lot from ourselves.  The weight of America’s success should not be placed upon the President’s shoulders alone.   Although it is very important to pray for the safety of  the President and his family, our responsibility shouldn’t end there.  We have an even greater responsibility to ourselves to be the best we can be.   It is not President Obama’s job to fulfill our dreams.  Whether or not we fail or succeed is up to each of us alone.  With the economy in such turmoil, it is going to be harder than ever before to make ends meet., but we must not lose hope.  When I was growing up I used to hear people say, “When the going gets rough,  the tough get going. “  Well, the goings are getting rough and it is time for us to get going.   A lot of us have been stagnating in fear, placing the blame for our failures on every thing and everyone else but ourselves.  If we are going to move ahead, we have to be honest with ourselves by taking responsibility for our own choices.    Just like it is a new day for America as a whole, it can be a new day for each and every one us, a day when we can finally put the past behind us and move ahead.  President Obama has inspired us to believe that we can.    We must not disappoint him, but most importantly, we must not disappoint ourselves.   We have been blessed to see this day come to pass, that alone, places a great responsibility  upon our shoulders.  It is now our task to be keepers of the flame of hope and peace.  For we are visualizing the dreams of  the many who died hoping and wishing for this day, but  it is not enough to visualize the dream, we have to live the dream.   It is time to live the dream!

copyright 2008 by P.Newman-Harris

Happy 2012

Happy New Year to all my friends and family and frequent visitors to the blog.  May your new year be blessed.  I'd like to dedicate this song to you all.  If we hold on, a change is coming. 

Salute ot Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy King Day

A KING FIT TO BE A KING

A King is what you were destined to be

One who could see injustices others could not see.

Hand chosen by God to lead the battle against inequality

You were a King fit to be a King.

You changed the world with one cry, “Let freedom ring.”

Selfless, humble, courageous and strong,

You gave your life to right the ultimate wrong.

Yours was not a message of violence, but one of love,

Peace and humility.

You could forgive the unforgiveable,

Motivate the unmotivatable  and move the seemingly  immoveable

You awakened the sleeping and quickened the dead in spirit.

You taught us to draw from a well spring of strength

That lay dormant in the pain and agony of injustice.

You gave us a vision of what was on the other side

You ignited our hearts with pride.

You enabled us to see that we could overcome,

If in our hearts we would believe,

That was your hope.

That was your dream.

Penetrating the darkness of hopelessness and despair,

You were a beacon of hope, challenging,

Inspiring and gently guiding us through,

Like the great men and women before

Who championed freedom’s cause.

They may have stilled your voice, but

In our spirits, we can still hear your cry,

“Free at last, Free at last, thank God

Almighty, we are free at last!”

All hail to you Martin

Forever in our hearts you will be

A King

Fit to be a King.

copyright:  P. Newman-Harris

One Wish

If I had one wish

It would be to make every Christmas dream come true

So, Lord, I’d like to talk to you.

Little Jasmine wants a new pair of shoes,

But if she had to choose,

She’d rather have a place to sleep.

She knows her Mother is tired of staying on the street.

Little Tyler’s gift cannot be wrapped

All he wants is to have his father back.

Every time Nicholas goes to church,

He prays that one day there will be peace on earth.

There are so many soldiers fighting in Iraq

Their families just want them to come back.

All over the world

There are little boys and girls

With needs such as these,

So, Lord, please

Bless them tonight

As they make a wish and turn out the light.

Lord remember those who have no home.

I hate to see them spend Christmas alone.

I come on their behalf

Knowing you can bring miracles to pass.

Lord, we know you are there.

We know how much you care.

So, we come asking you

To do whatever you can do.
Lord, we are counting on you

To make our Christmas dreams come true.

All over the world

There are little boys and girls

With tiny hands clasped

Innocently they ask

Not knowing what they ask

Will be no small task

Lord, I come on their behalf.

If I had just one wish 

It would be to make every Christmas wish come true.

copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Prayer for Peace

If you have been visiting this blog for any length of time, I'm sure you have discovered my private passion is for bringing peace and harmony to the world.  That is why, especially, at this time of the year, I have great concern for those whose fight for the battle of peace has kept them away from family and friends.  For them, I say a special holiday prayer, for their families, and friends, that this time next year, they will be at home hugging their loved ones tight.  I wish you all a very Merry Chirstmas and a Happy New Year...Whoever you are and Where ever you are I dedicate this prayer and this song to you.

To the war torn countries of the world:

For you, I say this prayer today

To Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, to Jerusalem, Sarajevo,

Beirut, Belfast, Africa, Kuwait, Mongolia,

To the world.

May God 's peace rain from shore to shore,

Cleansing hardened hearts from hatreds of generations past.

May the winds of unrest be stilled at last.

May God open blinded eyes and allow them to

See the world afresh and new.

     May he shut the bowels of anger, hatred and wrath

And lead us down compassion’s path

May broken spirits be repaired

and old wounds healed.

I pray that the children of the world

will remain untouched by the violence their young

eyes have seen.

May God raise up amongst them leaders who will teach the

way of peace, godliness and love.

I pray that they will be young men and women

That will desire to resolve their differences

Without the need for weapons or missiles, but instead will work

together to bring about a peaceful coexistence.

I pray that they will not fight without purpose or cause,

but, will choose to stand for what is decent and right.

I pray for those who have lost their lives needlessly.

On behalf of their families I seek comfort and healing.

Lord, I ask that you would fill us with your love.

Give us a heart of understanding and a tolerance for diversity

in race, color, nationality and customs.

Teach us how to love one another with the same love

wherein you have loved us, unconditionally and without merit.

I pray for everlasting peace and restoration for us all.

Forever grant us your sweet Shalom.

In Jesus name.

  Amen

Remember

To those who believe

Christmas only comes in December

Let’s take a moment to remember.

Remember the Holy one

Remember all that he has done.

Christmas is much more than a season,

Much more than a few days of fun.

Christmas is a time to remember.

Remember the love

That was sent from above.

Remember God’s grace,

Remember his mercy

By showing the same love and trust

That he has shown toward us.

It’s taking a stance,

Independent of circumstance,

For a sister or brother who can’t stand on his own

It’s opening your home

When someone is spending Christmas alone.

It’s going out of your way to help the deprived.

It’s offering someone a ride,

Giving an encouraging word or two.

It’s doing whatever you can do.

It’s standing in a gap for someone,

Regardless of ethnicity, birthplace

Or race.

It’s never about color.

It’s about helping one another.

It’s the caring

And the sharing

It’s about putting a smile on the face

Of boys and girls

Throughout the world.

It’s the showing of God’s amazing grace

Not just one day,

But everyday.

It’s the giving.

It’s the living.

No matter what the reason

Or the season might be

It’s showing the same love as he.

To those who believe Christmas only comes in December,

Lets take a moment to remember.

Remember God’s love.

Remember his grace.

Remember

Remember

Not just in December

Remember.