The King's Eyes (Final Version)

Posted by Terrence Johnson

Through these eyes

Many days of struggle

Seen

Blood-shot red

Red from the heat of inequality

Crowds of disenfranchised people

Marching

Serving as their guide

Boycott

Demanding change

Pavement worn from thousands of feet

Walking

Endurance is necessary

For success

Clenching worn prison bars

Words transcribed in letter form

Birmingham

Persecuted, not broken

Knowing this is God’s will

White hooded faces

Burn crosses outside my window

TV screen

Water hoses beat like slave whips

Nooses dangle people like Christmas ornaments

Objects

Aggressive actions from their fearful eyes

Watchful

Scared of me

My plan of action

Act non-aggressively

Responsibly

Non-violently

Podium

Faces awaiting a new Moses

To part the sea of segregation

My words taste of power

Feeding them vital sustenance

Giving them strength to endure

In times of rest I dream

Of a world that could be

Memphis

Balcony

Chrome flashes

Bullet

Eyes close

Resting until my dream comes true