An Advocate For Social Economic Justice In America: Gunned Down Poem by Terence George Craddock

I agree
with an opinion
a great hope

for social
economic
justice

in America
was gunned down
with assassination

political
of Martin Luther
King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
who opposed war
in Viet Nam stating

'the promises
of the great society
have been shot down

on the battlefields of Viet Nam'

meaning planned
profit corporate pursuit
of a vast widened

war in Viet Nam had
'narrowed domestic
welfare programs,

making the poor, white
and Negro, bear the heaviest
burdens both at the front

and at home...'

Terence George Craddock believes
'If the promise
of social

and economic
justice
is to be attained

in America,
the time to struggle
and fight for social

and economic justice
is now, always now, not
delaying

for a more opportune
time and a more couragious
future genereation.

The promise lives
on, in all of us
who are prepared

to stand
up against those
who stole justice,

deliberately
without mercy
or the slightest

trace
of scrupples
in the first place.

Justice is only
as strong and as secure,
as each generation

prepared
to honour and fight
to uphold

and preserve justice.
We stand to be tested
in the crucible of integrity

now, always now.'


Copyright © Terence George Craddock