This beautiful poem was read during the awards ceremony last week. I am absolutely amazed at how far we have come in the past three years, I received the Access award on behalf of all of the supporters of this initiative and therefore this poem is for all of you guys as well! Thank you - onward and upward! Magnificently, these seven Edge Toronto nearer heaven By acting friendly splinters to The Body Politic. They rue False Peace, and chafe, and irritate To, Equality, elevate All citizens. These activists Ache at egregious grievances-- The disrespect respecting Pride; Unhoused Natives, all night, outside; Those who seek ramps for wheelchairs; Those who seek Justice from their peers; Those wanting People of Colour To never more suffer Dolour Or Doldrums, but to win degrees Plus dollars that unbend their knees. Conscientiously angelic-- Each prized citizens no relic, But takes, as constitutional, The duty to make beautiful Toronto, by ensuring Power-- (If undemocratic, its dour)-- To persons whose reality Demands peoples Equality. All the City of Toronto-- Applaud seven times a hero In each of these best citizens Whose deeds render opponents friends, Whose Credos charity incites: None is human sans human rights. --George Elliott Clarke
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 02:10:11 +0000