18 July 2013

Guilty, Not

A hand that could curl around the handle of a gun 
and reach with the trigger finger could surely throw 
a punch up close and effectively.  Maybe not.

Racial Profiling was at play in the beginning 
and end of the action, in the "not guilty" of the verdict, 
when we were so certain of the guilt.  Bewildered.

We had such clarity that we didn't even call for
a Jury of His Peers until too late--because
who would've thunk?  Ugly. Small. Law.


Since the murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman, my hands have been cold and my head has been spinning.  Lyrica and Ibuprofen have been ineffective.  Only poetry has helped.  And thoughts of new ways of treating conflict proven by Nelson Mandela in South Africa.  And lots of prayer.

 These poems and poets in particular have given me minutes of clarity:
(1) Velveteen Rabbit and her JULY 17, 2013  poem after Tisha b'Av "WATER FROM THE SOURCE" which addresses blessings fasting and growing while in "the fallen temple of justicemothers wailing for their sons --"
(2) Mama Zen at Another Damn Poetry Blog, where her poem "Not Yet" releases both astonishment and anger.
(3) At her blog, LaTonya's "Lobster Boil" releases both hopelessness and anger.  
       (4)  At Blog Over Easy: We stand our Ground


 
And there will be more to expand this list.
Add your links, please.


 Posted at Poetry Pantry #159 at Poets United.
Posted by at

25 comments:

  1. SusanThursday, July 18, 2013 at 1:48:00 PM EDT

    Here is another amazing link: "Dis-Heartened: on recognizing the disease that killed Trayvon" by Niyonu Spann, originally on facebook and reprinted with all illustrations (!) at the American Friends Service COmmittee Website "Acting in Faith:
    http://www.afsc.org/friends/dis-heartened-recognizing-disease-killed-trayvon

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susie ClevengerFriday, July 19, 2013 at 12:44:00 AM EDT

    Painfully true...I still can't believe it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sherry Blue SkySaturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:14:00 AM EDT

    A sad commentary on how far our society has not yet come. Well done, Susan. I am amazed there were not crowds in the streets over this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LaTonya BaldwinSunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:28:00 AM EDT

      Sherry, there have been demonstrations across the country and many more are scheduled for several months ahead.

      Delete
    2. LaTonya BaldwinSunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:31:00 AM EDT

      Your words echo. And I so glad to learn you are Quaker. I was a babe in fellowship. My first Meeting, I knew I was home. Meeting is quite a distance and I no longer have a car but I am forever grateful to Ann Arbor Friends.

      Delete
    3. Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little PencilTuesday, July 23, 2013 at 2:27:00 AM EDT

      As a member of the United Church of Christ, cousins of both the Quakers and the Unitarian Universalists, I embrace pacifism. Gandhi, Jesus, Dr. King, the Buddha, and so many more had the right idea...
      Here's my link, I hope this is what you wanted, Susan,
      http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/07/22/i-stand-my-ground-with-my-words/

      Delete
  4. Sherry Blue SkySaturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:21:00 AM EDT

    I read the poem after Tisha b'Av. It is spectacular. But it wont let me comment and I finally gave up. Thanks for sending me there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LaTonya BaldwinSunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:27:00 AM EDT

    Susan, I wrote verse in response as well. Here is mine:
    http://blackandgraylifemusings.blogspot.com/2013/07/lobster-boil.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 10:59:00 AM EDT

      I put this link above. Thank you for all your thoughts LaTonya!

      Delete
  6. Brian MillerSunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:49:00 AM EDT

    that we assume we will ever have justice in this world is rather absurd...we are in the end a solution to the equation that we created a product of the machine which we have created and are a part of...only when we stand up and change it...then again it will be our justice but will it be for the next?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:04:00 AM EDT

      I know; I don't know.
      The justice Mandela encouraged in South Africa involved individualizing each crime/criminal. It takes time and care. I pray that we recognize we have both.

      Delete
    2. Brian MillerSunday, July 21, 2013 at 3:58:00 PM EDT

      yep, have you ever read no freedom without forgiveness by desmond tutu?

      Delete
    3. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 4:19:00 PM EDT

      No. I've read lots of small snippets from Desmond Tuto. Do you recommend/agree?

      Delete
  7. MarySunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:52:00 AM EDT

    You have made your points strongly and clearly, Susan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:08:00 AM EDT

      Thank you MARY. Thank you too for keeping the Pantry and reading the poetry we shelve here.

      Delete
  8. TALONSunday, July 21, 2013 at 9:50:00 AM EDT

    It's heartbreaking that we are stuck in this place...seem incapable of changing that which has gone before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:06:00 AM EDT

      I derive hope from the great many changes we have made, the many choices we have. We can never take justice for granted, I learn over and over. We were so certain that the court would see the evil of the gun shot, we forgot to watch the system. Let us say Never Again.

      Delete
    2. SusanSunday, July 21, 2013 at 4:20:00 PM EDT

      I should write a poem from this.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousSunday, July 21, 2013 at 1:24:00 PM EDT

    This is heart-breaking indeed

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lisa WilliamsSunday, July 21, 2013 at 8:35:00 PM EDT

    The shock of a "not guilty" verdict has so many of us in turmoil. It is often said "we've come so far" but in view of this, yet another injustice, I don't think we've come far at all. A very strong, truthful piece everyone should read.

    ReplyDelete
  11. SaravSunday, July 21, 2013 at 9:59:00 PM EDT

    An intense and emotional piece, very fitting for this tragedy. A life that could have been saved if he would have followed four simple words "Do not follow him"
    heartbreaking

    ReplyDelete
  12. LaTonya BaldwinTuesday, July 23, 2013 at 10:56:00 AM EDT

    Have you seen this one, Susan by lolamouse:

    http://lolamousedroppings.blogspot.com/2013/07/love-letter-from-gun-to-hoodie.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. TCPCThursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:53:00 AM EDT

    Justice is a long process and never gets done ironically. and the sense dawns only after the upholders of law see it otherwise. Unfortunate but true

    ReplyDelete
  14. LaTonya BaldwinSaturday, July 27, 2013 at 7:45:00 AM EDT

    See today' Blog Over Easy
    http://blackandgraylifemusings.blogspot.com/2013/07/poets-we-stand-our-ground.html

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to have a dialogue with you. I moderate comments, so you won't see yours immediately.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)