Vilma Olsvary Ginzberg

[Larry Robinson]

Coretta Scott King
 
Watching her funeral on TV, 2006
 

 
four tall white men
southerners all
presidents all
bush carter clinton bush
stand together today
in a congregation of accolades 
to honor a small black woman
sweet soprano voice of peace
silenced finally
resting beneath a mound of 
scarlet roses sun-yellow lilies
bright and passionate as her courage
 
no mere appendage 
to her towering royal mate
she rose from his ashes
spoke with steely purpose
for the softest of virtues
endured assaults
of spiked and forked tongues
hearth-destroying bombs
to raise to dignity
the petty lives of garbage collectors
the poverty-enveloped
the forgotten children
the unjustly deprived
 
without bomb or tank she moved nations
lacking armor she prevailed
her only uniform the light of care
her only bugle the call for peace
 
she stood in silence
walked in grace
 
for you, now, sister in peace,
we stand in the fist of silence
walk in hope of grace                                               
 
	- Vilma Olivary Ginzberg
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