Martin Luther King Jr.
Equal born, equal in death
Why on the earth then do we fret
About our differences while living
When death is equally unforgiving?
We all go through life somehow
With an attitude of being holier than thou
Condemning every viewpoint that may appear
Different from the ideas to which we adhere.
Why do we try to impose our will?
Why do we try so hard to drill
In others, our customs and specific ways,
Convinced that we are right always.
Using superiority as a pretense
Sometimes we resort to violence
In base attempts at subjugation
Of those who resist our domination.
***
Can we appreciate and share
Cultural diversity everywhere
Learn to celebrate our differences
Soak in varied experiences,
Differences may seem too great
Ideas may appear disparate
But understand that deep inside
All of us, similarities hide.
Empty-handed we were born
Empty-handed we return
To the earth when life is done;
So love and tolerance we should learn.
