How Soon We Forget (A Poem For Our Youth)

How soon we forget what true sacrifice meant.

We forget all the sacrifices and the blood that was spent.

The degradation of being forced to give up your seat.
Racist tempers flaring and innocents being beat.
Living your life in abject terror hoping to avoid the pain. 
The hurt and loss we experienced when a loved one was slain.

 

Time may have passed but our memory shouldn't be clogged.
Never forget the images of firehoses and biting dogs.
Remember we were a united people trying to make a stand.
Black masculinity declaring: "I am a MAN!"

We sang old hymns like "We Shall Overcome!"
They drowned out the flapping of hate filled tongues.

Bricks were tossed and there was senseless loss of life.
We endured murders, bombings, and hateful strife.

 

Malcolm X & Dr. Martin Luther King:
Both men equally demanded the America's Dream!
Their historical martyrdom have become afterthoughts. 
Muffled in our minds are the lessons they taught!

 

We have become heedless people who choose to forget.
So the GENOCIDE of our youth is now our regret.

Each night we watch as hundreds are slain.
Black victims listed int he thousands as random names.
Cousins, brothers, and nieces die night after night.
Murdered by cowards who have forgotten the fight.

 

I wrote this poem to simply say: 

We have to stop and remember our yesterdays! 
The sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King. 
It provides understanding of what unselfish love means.

The truth of knowing that freedom can be contrary.
This is illuminated by the fidelity of Malcolm's:

 "By Any Means Necessary!"
A speech not made from unjustified hate.
A reminder to take no one you love for sake! 

We must understand that killing is wrong. 
It is not our part in God's eternal song. 
The murder of one is the sacrifice of all. 
The pillars you destroy will cause everything to fall! 
The Movement was not so long ago.

To make a generation we have a while to go.
Lets take this time to live and to grow.
Lets teach our history to everyone we know.

 

Stop killing the future and remember our past.
Declare yourself:          "Free at last"

 

Forget all your stupid hatreds and let love reign.
Remember all the sacrifices and those who were slain.
Embrace our history and learn what we went through.
Then you will learn the same truth that our ancestors knew:
Love and compassion can make all things new.
Just open your heart so LOVE can shine through.

Racism is taught but another truth can be learned.

With patience and compassion racism can be turned.

Our ancestors gave all so that we could survive.

Honor their memory and remember your pride.

© 2012 Eddie Phillips

Author's Note

Please comment. Bad or good I would appreciate the feedback. I am new on the site.

Reviews

[Antoñyo]

Love is, and will always be all that matters.

Great piece, Eddie,
thanks for sharing this hit-home piece

[Talal Hussain]

Wow Eddie..As a resident of a country like Pakistan,i could totally relate..i hope one day peace will prevail :-)

[Frieda P]

You leave me speechless with most of your poems on social commentary Eddie, your voice is strong and vehement and the fervent message echoes in my heart. 'All you need is love' couldn't be more true, we should never forget....we need more Dr Kings and people such as yourself to keep the message going, outstanding!!

[Tarry Franck]

My dear you did an excellent job on this piece. Everything about it rings true. Love reigns!!!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Stop killing the future; remember the past
Declare yourself: "Free at last"

Forget stupid hatred and let love reign
Remember the sacrifices; remember those slain...

Eddie, in every one of your poems there are lines that could stand alone, that speak so clearly. You have such a gift for declaring strong messages without judging, firm yet gentle, and always spot-on with the lesson that needs to be heard. Excellent poem, my friend.

[sushobhan]

It was a well crafted poem with a commanding message,"The poems like this can be an ideal way to pacify the intense tussle b/w any 2 nations or social divisions. You have just written a peace-instilling poem and of course, Rhyme scheme i.e thing to which I'm addicted is well administered here. Keep up the good job!.....

[Laminators Dubai]

its better not review....just follow it...

thank you so much Eddie.for rr.
thanks for showing the way...

[Eddie Phillips]

Please comment. Bad or good I would appreciate the feedback. I am new on the site.