SOMETIMES

Sometimes…

just when I’m ready to say

the hell with it all,

I see a little one’s smile

looking up at me.

I see her bright eyes

full of faith in all of us.

I see his trusting look

as he shows me his latest bruise.

Damn!

I see their little arms and legs

frantically jumping…

running…

or just sort of romping.

It’s then I remember my youth

and how sure I was then…

that things would somehow be better.

It’s then that I’m reminded

of Nat, John, Harriet, Fannie Lou, Rosa, Malcolm,

Medgar, Martin, Malcolm, and Huey.

Just one more day

for our ancestors,

and ourselves.

Sometimes,

even in the belly of the beast

life’s struggle is beautiful.

Onward then…

BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney, is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc., Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS NewsHour, formerly known as The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. For more about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and Thinker , by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn]. (Click here to read excerpts from the book). Click here to contact Mr. Pinkney.