Dr. Martin Luther King

The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.

THE RIGHT ROAD

I remember this man, this DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

I listened to his words, he would say the right things.

He knew of the sickness, across this great land.

He knew that the anger and racism, was created by man.

He was like the great surgeon, his words were his knife.

He cut into our conscience and made us look at our life.

He taught us to be non-violent, to act with honor and pride.

To get rid of this sickness, It had to start from inside.

He was fighting a battle that should never have been fought.

He let us know we are all brothers and sisters, but a lot of us forgot.

When he would speak of "Content of Character" I was full of shame.

I felt, like he was talking to me, like he knew my name.

He started me thinking, his message was clear.

He made me realize, I had nothing to fear.

This peaceful man touched me, he had turned on a new light.

He had pulled me from the shadows and out of the night.

He was teaching non-violence, and that peace was the way.

Isn't it ironic, what he was against, is what took him away.

His voice is still with me, and his message still strong.

I hope I will live to see the righting of this wrong.

For the better part of my life, I thought I was right.

He made me see differently, (because, you see, I'm white)

I wonder what it would be like today, if he hadn't died.

I was enthralled by his words, he was turning the tide.

As of yet no one's come forward to carry his load.

I keep hoping to see one, to keep us on THE RIGHT ROAD.

Written by: R.E. (Mike) Patterson, Author

Published in the "WHO' WHO IN NEW POETS" Magazine, January 1996

R.E. (Mike) Patterson is Messinaic Rabbitzin Barb Carlson's Father.