SOLITARY FIGURES
Little chessmen on the board joust and tussle valiantly
One man defeats a king,
Headstrong fighter in the ring.
Newspaper headline proclaims
"Woman fights city hall"
What a gallant fight.
A skirmish in the darkest night.
There is something I want to say
Something about David going up against Goliath
Something about pilgrims setting out on an uncertain voyage.
I want to say something about MLK marching for freedom
His gospel of nonviolence still resonates today
I want to say something about Rosa Parks
Rising high above the fray.
Refusing to give up her seat on the bus.
Her courage speaks to all of us.
I want to say something about Mahatma Gandhi,
The way he lived as an example of gallantry and peaceful protest.
Putting his strong ideals to the test, quietly raising the bar.
I want to speak of Joan Baez, a lone woman with a guitar,
Singing we shall overcome alone on a stage,
Ushering in a new day and age for flower children everywhere,
Her clear soprano piercing the exuberant air
Little chessmen on the board spar and tussle valiantly
One man defeats a king...
I want to say something about solitary figures
Going out and coming in alone and standing straight against the wind.
-Bruce Potts
Copyright 2024
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
