Margaret Walker's "Micah" (1970)

Micah was a young man of the people
Who came up from the streets of Mississippi
And cried out his Vision to his people
Who stood fearless before the waiting throng
Like an astronaut shooting into space.
Micah was a man who spoke against Oppression
Crying: Woe to you Workers on Iniquity!
Crying: Woe to you doers of violence!
Crying: Woe to you breakers of the peace!
Crying: Woe to you, my enemy!
For when I fall I shall rise in deathless dedication.
When I stagger under the wound of your paid assassins
I shall be whole again in deathless triumph!
For your rich men are full of violence
And your mayors of your cities speak lies.
They are full of deceit.
We do not fear them.
They shall not enter the City of good-will.
We shall dwell under our vine and fig tree in peace.
And they shall not be remembered in the Book of Life.
Micah was a man.

Published in Prophet's for a New Day