Ideastream Week 23

Sing with Me the Essence of Humanity

Poetry Salvage

The silence in the City Hall was deafening As we sang out We Shall Overcome Polyester suits and narrow ties Scanned us all with narrowed eyes Helpless and struck dumb

Outnumbered by the crowd who’d come to hear her Together in our numbers felt at home Helen Suzman the voice of protest Spoke of freedom, not to rest, We should not succumb

To the brutality of apartheid Petition for unshackling of the State The white racists could not uproot The Honorable woman we salute The signature tune of ‘68

Fifty years have come and gone I still recall singing that song While the security cops looked on Outnumbered by the throng Of those who wished for better days And wonder did we mend our ways

Have we progressed Awareness raised We must keep fighting No rest nor praise

Till every man, woman, child Of every race is reconciled Mutual respect and dignity The essence of humanity

…

We Shall Overcome!

Ukuthula!

Thank you Marla Bishop for the prompt to write using these words;

Brutality freedom silence overcome home together protest signature petition honorable