Ode to Uncle Mo

By Wally Myers

Perhaps you’ve heard or seen Uncle Mo
Handhas Gandhi, from the academy award show?
He lived in India, where it’s poor and it’s hot.
And overthrew an empire without firing a shot.

To put Mo in a box was hard to do
He was a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, a Jew
It’s hard to figure what Mo was
Rather than one, he was all of us.

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Uncle Mo was not prideful at all.
He fed the goats, he cleaned the stall.
He walked with a stick on well worn sandals
And road third class on his rail road travels.

India had troubles with the British Empire
Who controlled with guns, ready aim fire.
But behind all empires is grasping and greed
As all oppressed people, Indians wanted to be freed.

Mo knew fighting back made things worse.
But had to do something, had to resist.
For freedom and justice he would not kill
Rather sacrifice or die, he could do that still.

Uncle Mo and his followers sacrificed without fail
And the soldiers of empire put them in jail.
Disturbing the peace, that’s what they said.
An empire has devils running around in its head.

Empire’s greed is the money of power
So Mo piled all that wealth as high as a tower
And burned it all down to a heap of ash
No more deals; no more cash.

The empire starved cause it cost more than it stole
Mo’s non-violent resistance helped them to go.
Neither was blinded with an eye for an eye
They parted respectfully when they parted good bye.

Yet oppression removed begins a battle for power
Hindu against Muslim freedom turned sour.
All were his children, “Stop fighting, stop please.”
And by refusing to eat, Mo turned war into peace

Willing to die, to turn his cheek and take the blow
Showed Jesus of peace in the humble heart of Mo.
Having no enemies, none below, none above,
He overcame fear with truth and hate with love.