Stick-To-Itness

MLK with his wife, Coretta Scott King
holding down the game.
Courtesy: Ms. Bernice A. King

Can you hold the game down?

Can you drown

The clamor of the crowd?

You think it's as easy

As it sounds?

Or you think you can shake it

Like Sunday morning?

Sons of darkness

Are waxing all sorts of madness.

Tapping their potential

For violence till violence

Becomes an existential

Breathing essence

Of everyday living.

Can you keep believing

To the face of what they're bringing?

Can you be a child of light

That's maxing virtues of the Most High?

That light that shines

And keeps on shining

In the darkness,

And this darkness

Cannot comprehend

Or overcome it.

Can you be true to the end?

Can you stick to it

In the face of unnumbered foes?

Can you multiply the heat,

One hundred fold

Everytime hearts turn cold?

Can you pump the acceleration,

Unleash courage like a mighty stream

When darkness pumps a tide of desolation?

Will you walk in love

When men walk

After gross things

That do not profit?

Akpan