He stood above us
Because he willed to love.
He gave himself for others
That their lives might find hope.
But yesterday they cut him down—
Those forces wild with hate!
O violence, what strong arms you have,
To strike and maim the innocent,
Those who would live by love.
But let us not be fooled,
For power to love is all the power that is!
All else is folly, hopelessness, despair.
Yesterday he died,
But time was on his side;
And footprints deep he planted in America
Walking the way of love,
Enduring hopelessness and hate,
Yet holding hope supreme within his heart,
That people now oppressed might live again,
He signed a Name across our land
For black and white he wrote a song of faith!
He saw and shared a vision
Of the promised land of brotherhood and love!
And we shall not soon forget him.
Let then it be our task
To walk the way of courage and of hope,
To likewise live by love for one and all!
(April 5, 1968, the day after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)