The waves of the world are many
They are held forever in the deep gray light
Just as many are the joys of fidelity
Just as many are the joys of standing firm in commitment
The stamina of integrity is the sun of the human life
Just as the sun gives life to all the world
Integrity brings life to the human soul
It is the foundation for all that is true and refined
And for all that is deep and abiding
From Selma to Montgomery
Marching with the firm foundations of grace
Yet surrounded by the cruel plague of hatred rooted in injustice
Hatred is the sickness of the human heart
From it the stench of humankind grows foul and bitter
From the hour of thy birth to the hour of thy death
We are all cursed with the false captivations of the human heart
As our thoughts flutter to dishonesty
Merely to justify our pride
This as such is the fruit of the bitterness of death
When one tastes this foul fruit known as hate
Then one’s soul grows weak with corruption
Blessed is the soul that lifts up
The meek and the oppressed of the earth
And thwarts the schemes of the proud
Like fidelity to a promise
One performs one’s duty
And is laid happily down to the grave of death
When the time is right for life’s own ending
And the signs of the stars will tell us
That the time has come
------------------------------------------------------
When the cold winds come upon us all
Then the heart will still stand firm
Because of this, this faith
This strength of which endures greatly like the stars
In fidelity to what is true
To what is good
To what is just
And to that which speaks
Kindly to the depths
Of the human heart
It is of more weight than all of the mountains
And it is of more value than any piece of treasure
For it is the grace of joy from the mountain of God
To gaze upon integrity in one's own soul
It is to surely see the light and rejoice
For freedom has come
Like the light of the moon
Pouring out infinity into ever emerging shapes
And lighting the mind in this great joy
Unfolding with the heavens
And lighting up the skies of the world
With the grace of thine eyes
And that great yet simple smile
Everlasting is this, over the parkway and over the hills
Where the spirit abides
To be forever held
In the fabric of time
(Fidelity, EB).