Rites of passage

to MLK jr.

Now rock the boat to a fare-thee-well.
Once we suffered dreaming
Into the place where the children are playing
their child’s games
where the children are hoping
knowledge survives if
unknowing
they follow the game
without winning.

Their fathers are dying
back to the freedom of wise children playing
at knowing
their fathers are dying
whose deaths will not free them
of growing from knowledge
of knowing
when the game becomes foolish
a dangerous pleading
for time out of power

Quick
children kiss us
we are growing through dream.