Page 32 - Contrast1968

Washington, D.C. October 21, 1967

1. On marching.
With faces instead of feet,
With love replacing hatred's heat,
With faces,

With rows and puddles of faces,
With mouths and eyes,
On grass.
In pools
On bridges (we sat down
And we SANG--
Our hearts were that full)
We sang

And filled our own ears
With a shield to shouts
We heard only shispers
Coming from the inside,
We spoke softly,

But felt no need for sticks.

(I will acknowledge the others
Who could not bear the hush,
Who wanted to rUsh to the top
And demolish;
Like Norman Mailer
They need a jailer,
Personification
of Pacification
And all that)

2. The whispers
Were on the grass,
Were in the pools,
Sat down on bridges
And sang,
And SING--
And sting the mind
Like tear gas.

3. On marching.

With faces instead of feet,
With faces that held the beat,
With rows and puddles of faces,
With miles of eyes,
With whispers and sighs.

BRB