Black History Month

Person of The Week

Martin Luther King Jr.

He had a dream....

Here is a Link to his speech in text and audio: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Here is a link on the story of his life:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream

Poem Of the Month

A Preparative to Prayer

by: Robert Southwell (1560-1595)

When thou dost talk with God--by prayer, I mean--

Lift up pure hands,lay down all lust's desires;

Fix thoughts on heaven,present a conscience clean:

Such holy blame to mercy's throne aspires.

Confess fault's guilt,crave pardon for thy sin,

Tread holy paths, call grace to guide therein.

It is the spirit with reverence must obey

Our Maker's will, to practise what he taught:

Make not the flesh thy counsel when thou pray;

'Tis enemy to every virtous thought;

It is the foe we daily feed and clothe;

It is the prison that the soul doth loathe.

Even as Elias, mounting to the sky,

Did cast his mantle to the earth behind;

So when the heart presents the prayer on high,

Exclude the world from traffic with the mind:

Lips near to God, and ranging heart within,

Is but vain babbling, converts to sin.

Like Abraham ascending up the hill

To sacrifice, his servants left below,

That he might act the great commander's will,

Without impeach to his obedient blow;

Even so the soul,remote from earthly things,

Should mount salvation's shelter--mercy's wings.

For information on the life of this poet you can check these links out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Southwell

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/southwell.htm