Federico Arcos

In memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

April 6, 1968

sent by friend of author

from Momentos, 1976

You knew
Yes,
you knew it.
You knew that death stalked you.
You knew it with certainty.
Your black brothers knew it
and your white brothers knew it.
We all knew that you were going to leave us,
your life cut short, suddenly,
violently,
with that swift, cruel, inhuman impact
that has abruptly ended so many lives.
Today you leave us orphaned of your words,
of your apostolic presence,
and your prophetic vision.
America is orphaned.
What a grief! What a grief, America!
What a grief! What a grief oh World!
But all Mankind
cannot lose your soul
because you have blessed us
with the best of your essence.
Yes, human feelings
could not survive
without this inheritance
you have bequeathed us.