Dream of people altogether singing
each singing his way to self
to realms on realms within
All singing their way on out of self
singing through to unity
kindling into flame of common purpose
from the altogether singing

Such singing once I heard
where black children sang the chants of work in slavery
of hope for life at last and justice beyond the spaded unmarked grave
The platform dignitaries of master race
stooping for the occasion
were suddenly shamed and shaken
by these fierce and singing children
chanting out their stormy hunger
for freeborn rights
still wickedly denied

Again once
in packed and stifling union hall
where miners gathered with their womenfolk
I heard such singing
While outside in the listening street
men stood uneasy and shivering beneath their heavy uniforms
more firmly gripped their guns
though unarmed were the singers
save for the weapon of song

And once again
where followers of the ripening crops
along that hot relentless valley hemmed by cool mirage of high Sierras
square danced with riotous feet
outstamping fiddlesqueak and banjo’s tinny jingle
There came a quiet
and from the quiet
burst altogether singing
yearning back to lands whence these were driven
the known and homely acres
then lusting forward to the richness of unending rows and vines and groves
The treasure tended only
but some day to be taken
and be rightly used