interlude unrelated to driving across country

As Some of you know I did an independent study on the poetry of social justice movements. I have included two below that were published online under Bleak House Review at. http://www.bleakhousepublishing.com

I am extremely grateful to the guidance of my professor Robert Johnson who has done wonderful work on prison justice. I know some of you are interested in Prison Justice and he just published a new book called Sunset Sonata.

About Sunset Sonata:

Robert Johnson’s voice resonates like a wise old teacher sharing his simple, worldly wisdom. He speaks about the natural world, the preciousness of life, and about innocence, but also about injustice, loss, human frailties, and the menace of terrorism, withholding nothing.

In spite of global threats, cynicism, loss, and the uncertainty and brevity of life, one can find nourishment and be restored by the words of poets like Robert Johnson who can find beauty and hope in the world.

For more info, this is the publishers site and please pass the word on:
https://www.brandylanepublishers.com/component/page,shop.product_details/category_id,21/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,77/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,62/vmcchk,1/





Poetry of Social Justice

Poetry cried out for social justice
before the movement started,
when the movement was challenged,
when the movement was scattered and lost,
when another movement came along.

Poetry exists in the shadows and lonely places of a social justice movement
in the leather journals,
on the paper napkins,
in tear sealed letters,
on the jail cell walls.

Poetry reflects the social justice movements
as the light between injustices,
as the clarity of purpose,
as the witness for the journey,
as the heart's hidden fragments.

Poetry is the cry of social justice movements
whispered by lone voices,
proclaimed to inspire new voices,

shouted over indifferent voices,
sung by a chorus of relentless voices.

Living Definition

define social justice:

do we start with cruelty,

or dignity?

must we characterize power,

or first, deprivation?

should we delineate ethics

or equality?

have we explored who its defined for,

or could it be universal?

do we denote law,

or value?

define social justice:

can you open up a dictionary,

or what about your heart?

will you describe what words designate,

or can you illustrate?

won't you assign something for society,

or for yourself?

is it ascertained for the broken,

or forgotten by your guilt?

do you have a basis to comprehend,

or will you miss our translations?

define social justice:

because your definition must come alive,

or our ink will fade…

Thanks for reading. The poems were in response to some of the works I was looking at. Back to blogging soon. The next one on Georgia is pretty exciting. I am actually in Arizona though and heading to San Diego today marking three weeks on the trip today.

Cheers,

Hannah