Flowers of Freedom

I spoke with a bird of paradise.

Many thanks to Tapan Avasthi who sought a poetry challenge. It prompted me to search for the symbol of freedom in the flower world… Strelitzia — the Bird of Paradise.

Its neck was outstretched commanding a blustering view.

Over the tops of other petals, it towered so true.

The enthused blossoms of orange, purple, blue, and yellow

Spoke with fire, passion, their scathing tongue razed every racist fellow.

Infused with anger, justice, even hate in their graceful stance

They commanded all others to look forward and not askance.

For the flower of freedom, Strelitzia, bore a message of love

It showered on the others like joy-filled rain thoughts from above.

Fifty-seven years ago it rang out in peace, ‘I have a Dream,’

Yet now, through the offices, it falls on deaf ears, or so it would seem.

‘Words came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.’

Now in riots and oppression it is challenged by racist depravity.

The dream asked that all flowers may ‘sit down at the table of brotherhood,’

Be nourished equally in nature’s flower bed, to be fairly understood.

So, like seedlings, we must ‘hew out of the mountain, a stone of hope,’

And let the teachings of a great soul blossom and flourish, not wither on the noose of a racist rope.

As questions rise yet again in our society, we must look towards the speeches of Martin Luther King (highlighted extracts). Through the benefit of internet we can see the the passion of his words spoken in gentle wisdom. It balances the plethroa of inflamed, violence-strewn, media presentations and gives pause to the understandings and hopes of a not-to-be forgotten impassioned soul who championed a cause we must visit constantly and truthfully.

Ten-second takeaway:

“We may have come on different ships but we are in the same boat now.”

“Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”

Words of Martin Luther King Jr.

Thanks for reading. Kevin