By: Cedric McClester
I believe hope springs eternal
With faith measured by the kernel
We can get past this infernal
If we get cooking with some Sterno
Can we turn it all around
When we commit to get down
All kinds of solutions can be found
So I’ll continue to expound
We can over come they sang
While shooters went bang bang bang
But not from the members of a gang
Out of the darkness from which they sprang
So I’ll remain an optimist
Not just a complainant who ***** his fist
I know that ignorance is bliss
But at all costs that’s what we must resist
If there’s a need for a paradigm
James Baldwin called it the fire next time
While city officials called it a crime
We can’t repeat it time after time
But I’m encouraged by what I see
From the populace and the powers that be
I don’t know if that’s just me
Cos I see a positive destiny
The commentator called for peace and calm
While the Nation of Islam called an alarm
And members of the clergy said do no harm
Let’s march in protest arm and arm
I know that we can find a better way
Than the tragic displays of yesterday
Because everybody’s gonna have their say
See I believe in time it’s gonna be okay
© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester. All rights reserved.
Apr 28, 2015
Apr 28, 2015 at 6:24 PM UTC
By: Cedric McClester
I believe hope springs eternal
With faith measured by the kernel
We can get past this infernal
If we get cooking with some Sterno
Can we turn it all around
When we commit to get down
All kinds of solutions can be found
So I’ll continue to expound
We can over come they sang
While shooters went bang bang bang
But not from the members of a gang
Out of the darkness from which they sprang
So I’ll remain an optimist
Not just a complainant who ***** his fist
I know that ignorance is bliss
But at all costs that’s what we must resist
If there’s a need for a paradigm
James Baldwin called it the fire next time
While city officials called it a crime
We can’t repeat it time after time
But I’m encouraged by what I see
From the populace and the powers that be
I don’t know if that’s just me
Cos I see a positive destiny
The commentator called for peace and calm
While the Nation of Islam called an alarm
And members of the clergy said do no harm
Let’s march in protest arm and arm
I know that we can find a better way
Than the tragic displays of yesterday
Because everybody’s gonna have their say
See I believe in time it’s gonna be okay
© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester. All rights reserved.
We Can Get Past This Infernal is the last in a series of 10 poems inspired by the city of Baltimore in the wake of the Freddie Gray funeral.