"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound..."
Voices echoed all around: high-pitched, low-pitched, off-key, with the beat. The soft hum of everyone singing sent a chill through the air. It was a dark night, with the temperature inching its way closer and closer to the below freezing mark. Yet, still they marched. The sound of dead leaves crunched under their feet, while the wind whispered gently into their ears. As the girl took a slight glance at her fellow marchers, she saw that not only were there students with her, but matured adults and young children also joined in. The candles they held lit up their faces, presenting a bit of mystery and eeriness to the scene. They were all marching for different reasons, each as diverse as every individual there.
"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has freedom."
These words, along with others, shone brightly on signs and posters. The girl felt a burning sense of pride as she read them. She was marching for a purpose; she was marching for a change; she was marching for MLK. As they followed a path through the campus, others watched them in awe. While the crowd made stops to recite and immense themselves of the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, a sense of purpose grew. While everyone was marching for a different reason, they all had the same goal: to start a movement, to be heard, to come together, to spread peace, to be an influence, and to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2012/01/18/MLK_peace_march_.aspx
Really lovely writing here, Kris. I love that the piece opens with sound, with music, and movement. It's very effective and evocative. I also like how we only get a glimpse of girl from whose perspective we are getting these observations. We learn so much about her from what she perceives even when we're told so little about her specifically. Well done.
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