Martin Luther King Jr. Poem by Karen Degnan-foiles

When I was little, I wanted to be
A speaker against prejudice and hating
My dad told me of a man of ground breaking
He spoke of equality for you and me

This man would bring people together
Of every creed and color
He tried to teach us live with each other
Side by side with toleration as brothers

He did not expect us to live in bliss
But with respect and without malice
He had a dream so strong and true
He had a dream for me and you

His life was short and not so perfect
He was simple man and a born sinner
A master of words and a deal spinner
But he was a model, a man to respect

His life was cut too short one day
By a man filled with fear and hate
If they were both alive here today
He would wipe the slate clean and pray

The good in his heart
Has lived on today
It shows when we show
Respect for each other

We hear of Equality, Peace, and Love
These can be all be linked
To that man who had a dream
To let freedom ring

His dream lives on today