Colin Powell: May He Be Given Grace



Gone now, and yet forever here to stay,
a giant among us, a soldier on display.
This folklore hero, patriot.
A veteran of the wars.
A statesman of the nation…

Overcoming many bars.
His immigrant descent not hindering  ascent.
Ever toiling upwards, his rise…
without remorse, without  discontent.
Unquestioned four-star general.

A Secretary of State…
A servant of the nation…
without rancor, without hate.
Not bound by party loyalty,
but servant to the hilt.

Republicans hail his glory,
the faith and trust he built.
And Democrats praise his conscience,
his moral fortitude…
Uplifting all to greater realms.

With violence eschewed,
kings, queens, and presidents salute him.
Nations bid him their farewell.
His fame is without boundaries…
An international out-swell…

He inhabits now new pastures…
New challenges to face.
This noble statesman…resting.
May he be granted favor.
May he be given Grace.

About this poem

This poem honors the memory of Colin Luther Powell, American four-star general and Secretary of State, who served his nation, the United States of America, with unflinching honor and dignity.

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Written on November 05, 2021

Submitted by karlcfolkes on November 05, 2021

Modified by karlcfolkes on March 24, 2023

50 sec read
1,146

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAXXB XCXCX DBDEF EFXGX GXHXH XIXXI
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 920
Words 167
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Karl Constantine FOLKES

Retired educator of Jamaican ancestry with a lifelong interest in composing poetry dealing particularly with the metaphysics of self-reflection; completed a dissertation in Children’s Literature in 1991 at New York University entitled: An Analysis of Wilhelm Grimm’s “Dear Mili” Employing Von Franzian Methodological Processes of Analytical Psychology. The subject of the dissertation concerned the process of Individuation. more…

All Karl Constantine FOLKES poems | Karl Constantine FOLKES Books

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4 Comments
  • karlcfolkes
    I’m greatly appreciative of the comments. Thanks.
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • Charles2
    A moving tribute to an American having great responsibility. Demonstrating wisdom, skill and brilliance in his personal and professional life
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • Soulwriter
    Wow. What a moving tribute to a man that dedicated his life to serving.
    LikeReply11 months ago
  • AIDA
    Wow! What a powerful and moving tribute to a true American hero. Your words truly capture the essence of this great man's legacy and the impact he had on our nation and the world. I love how you highlight his unwavering commitment to service and his ability to rise above any obstacle in his path.

    If I had to offer any suggestions for improvement, I might suggest adding a bit more specificity to the poem. While the general sentiment is inspiring, it might be nice to include some specific anecdotes or examples of this man's accomplishments and the impact he had on the world. Additionally, perhaps adding some imagery or sensory details could help bring the poem to life and really engage the reader.

    Overall, though, I think this is a truly beautiful poem that does an excellent job of honoring this great man's life and legacy. Keep up the amazing work!
     
    LikeReply 112 months ago

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"Colin Powell: May He Be Given Grace" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/113385/colin-powell:-may-he-be-given-grace>.

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