THE GOLDEN ARROW: Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21: 33-44, King James Version)
NUMBERLESS
[A poem recalling a special experience of growth, peace, protest, and prophecy written for The 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington, D. C. that was led by Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963]
[A poem recalling a special experience of growth, peace, protest, and prophecy written for The 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington, D. C. that was led by Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963]
Because by effort men must secure
Their name for honor, for being wise
Blood and nobility justifies
Until the force of law is mature
Trial by ordeal and duel to the death
say only righteousness can prevail
And divinity will never fail
The innocent ones to their last breath
Ten paces, turn, then fire at will
The dawn will crack and blast as blood flows
Or swords are crossed, en garde, with blade blows
Mighty to cleave, split, thrust, or to kill
Instead of the executioner
A solemn undertaker attends
No satisfaction until life ends
Not his duty bodies to inter
The witness to a violent act
Declaring manliness took the field
Or foolhardiness that would not yield
Only cowards die shot in the back
The unseen attacker, a viper
In robes of rank malice stained with shame
Forfeits his life, his own good name
To strike as a serpent, a sniper
True records must show, although he died
The affair of honor King engaged
Was not that of one simply outraged
Because of hate, racism and pride
Like those denying resurrection
Already there are those who say
No prophet from GOD appeared that day
Rejecting all divine correction
The pioneers writing history
Must bear an anointing heaven sent
To discern any sacred event
And testify with integrity
The spirit of truth like justice filled
The hearts and minds of those who obeyed
A chanting Jericho march displayed
Warriors submitted as GOD willed
And when the cry of the dream was cast
Like a gauntlet before our nation
Blind eyes were healed through revelation
And believers became free at last
I was there, I fell and rose with King
Just seventeen, daring to be brave
And refusing the chain of a slave
Evidence that death has lost its sting
Adults often miss what children see
When flesh and spirit both face the test
Declaring GOD has been manifest
The plain imprint of divinity
I could see the future we desired
The very things being talked about
Were even then being carried out
Trust in our Maker was required
Numberless the evening shadows fall
Yet, we look to the young to be bold
To repel the wolves that stalk the fold
Willing to destroy and ravage all
To turn pasture into killing ground
By the law of the claw and slaughter
The duty of each son and daughter
Watch and pray to hear the shepherd’s sound
Sheep achieve no more than sheep will dare
Despite the limits set upon youth
They are capable of knowing truth
Even when the foe is foul, unfair
We still face men who attack as mobs
Prejudice and discrimination
Ignorance with alienation
We still need housing, we still need jobs
As then our humanity must shine
Nonviolence and the law must rule
The ballot box and court room the tool
Our Avenger, He who is divine
Grace is not a gift for those who flee
Who endorse despair and will not stand
It is for those who march through the land
Whose weapon will be humility
The good fight of faith is only won
When a life of service is complete
Having never stooped to lie and cheat
We will overcome by deeds well done
©Michael Andrew Williams, 2013. All rights reserved.
