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By Mercedes Miller
© 2003

Two generations
stand on the divide
those seasoned with the sage wisdom
of time and struggle on their side
and those who have come to reap
its great rewards

Yet they come today
with questions

For the elders claim
that their youth are
a generation lost and void of destiny

While the youth proclaim they
are entrenched within rehetorical
messages that have somehow lost their savour.

The come today with questions
and illustrations, calling a nation
to return to its mission

They say:

Show us a nation built on the backbones
of strong people, armed with the passion
for change, desiring to move ahead
and we'll show you a picture of communities
in disarray, the aftermath of dreams that have
become buried in political arenas, wallstreet board-rooms
and corporate firewalls.

They say:

Show us old footage of Dr. King on Lincoln's
monumental steps, his lips armed with the dreams
of sharecroppers, maids, boxcar pullmen, mothers
and fathers, Jews and Gentiles

And we'll show you, present day realities
of Doctors and Lawyers
Teachers and Reverends
Mothers and Fathers
Protestants and Catholics
sinking in the consumerism
of Tinseltown and Toys.

While we, their childrens
Stand, still knocking at Washington's doors
but this time, crying for more.

We stand on the red hills of Georgia
in hamlets across this country
begging for the torches of a rich past
to light our way.

We hear King's voice resounding
from Freedom's trumpet, reminding us to ring
the alarms of our common humanity...
the conscience that binds.

Praying that his memory, his legacy
will not be in vain.

Challenging us to do more than
arm a nation with broken dreams
and instead restore the promise.

King telling us to indeed
heed his final call -
Pursuing justice and equality
for all God's children

Requiring us to push past
the haggling of budget cuts
and ballot measures
and equip these lost ones
with the dignity of our forefathers
with the destiny of our ancestors.

Sound the alarm
from Freedom's mountain
Let it resound
loud & clear

Arise! Arise!

Show us a nation
willing to wake from
its slumber
And we'll show you

A generation ignited with passion,
bellies burning, caught aflame
with the vision to carry on!

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