Born into a life marked with oppression
A fighter of freedom became an obsession
A bonfire ignites from the smallest of sparks
To the civil rights movement, would be Rosa Parks
Long before she was the face of their fight
From frail youthful girl, glowed a strong inner light
As a student of colour, school bus rides denied
The realization planted seeds deep inside
Ugly the face of hate shown to this girl
A bus proved that there was a white and black world
Prescient chance that one day came to be
A stone in the pathway of equality
A bus would yet figure again in her life
Though now she might ride, prejudice was still rife
Was not much to ask a black person to move
But to one Rosa Parks, this request would now prove
To be the last straw that broke this woman’s back
And purposefulness was not something she lacked
A lifetime of witnessing death and injustice
Came to this moment when nerve and heart mixed
She wanted the world she was now living in
To see she had rights, she was not giving in
She stood hard her ground, without leaving her seat
Her arrest made the circle of bias complete
She was now that small spark that would burn ever brighter
Inside this slight woman was a vigorous fighter
And a force that was brewing for years now grew stronger
Ready to show they would take it no longer!
The law was now coming to end segregation
Long overdue, an awakening nation
But decades would pass, and with each a new battle
Ready to take in hand cage bars and rattle!
And Rosa Parks’ journey from bus seat to symbol
Began with a statement, which clanged like a cymbal
“I don’t think I should have to stand up,” said with feeling
Would leave bigotry that long stood, dazed and reeling
Tenacious and dogged, and primed to defend
An activist’s life did she lead till the end
Honoured the highest, remembered with awe
Upon Rosa’s spirit, does righteousness draw
May we, if despondent, have fixed in our mind
Inside lays a hero, that is hoping we’ll find
The will to face all that the world has in store
So that we, like Ms. Parks, will prevail ever more…