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Cloth of Destiny
From his jail cell, he preached civility—
despite the agony centuries had brought.
Proud Rosa occupied a seat; though fraught
with risk, that act preserved her dignity.
We dreamed of equal opportunity,
and bloody segregation’s end besought.
King asked: “How can such justice not be wrought
in this land framed in equanimity?”
Our dreams are fractured now, disjointed; thus,
they rend King’s web of mutuality—
begetting impotence. Some occupy
our parks; but do they seek to unify?
Or divide? He once had cautioned us:
“We weave a single cloth of destiny.”
.
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Kevin Farnham lives in Northeastern Connecticut (“The Quiet Corner”). His poetry has appeared in The Lyric Magazine. His book “Twelve Sonnets: A Defense of Spirit” is the beginning of a long sonnet sequence titled “The Autumn Sonnets.”
Your poem echoes my thoughts about the message of MLK and that is to unify and be part of the same fabric of society, not to divide. Well said.
Roy, the poem was inspired by a re-reading of King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”; the direct quotes (and paraphrases) come from that.
Kevin, thank you for the source that inspired your poem. When I wrote, “Well said,” I meant it for the entire poem including your own words, meter, and rhyme.
Kevin, your poem is a beautifully written classic Petrarchan sonnet, and equally carefully thought out. Especially remarkable is that “volta” word, “equanimity.” Not “equality” or “equity,” both cheapened by overuse or misuse. Instead, the shared serenity of soul and mind that best serves human society as we weave that “cloth of destiny.” I notice that King’s son put out a call for renewal of the “civility” you mention in your first line, and that President Trump made much of his second inauguration day as progress toward the fulfillment of King’s dream. May it be so, and best wishes to you for more superb sonnets like this one.