“For a Better World”

"For a Better World" 2018

Poems and Drawings on

Peace and Justice

by Greater Cincinnati Artists

Editor: Saad Ghosn

"Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world. Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade."

Pope Francis

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one

class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe."

Frederick Douglass

Published in 2018 by Ghosn Publishing ISBN 978-1-7321135-0-3

Foreword

"Poetry is born in the caverns of the human heart, pausing before that which yearns. Poetry can contribute to social justice when it moves others' hearts, wakes people up to the world around them, stirs the moral imagination, or kindles the embers of hope." writes Jean Stokan, poet and Director of the Justice Team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in Washington, DC.

In this 15th edition of "For a Better World" seventy three poets and thirty seven visual artists, use their voice and their artistic power to contribute to social justice, to combat darkness, violence and evil, and to spread instead love, peace and justice that they would like to see prevail. They speak for a world after their heart and values, a world of hope, of fraternity and unity. Of all ages and backgrounds, their art and talent state their concerns and affirm their beliefs and values. By doing so, they also strengthen each other's diverse voices and give life to their hopes and dreams.

In a world still prey to injustice and wars, these artists weep for the dead, revolt for the oppressed, denounce unjust societal wrongs, advocate for the poor, the homeless, and the neglected, reject violence and its consequences, fight for the battered environment. They also challenge the prevailing societal values of materialism, consumerism and domination and speak for a change in values towards love, compassion and forgiveness. They paint a beautiful world, a world of diversity and equality, where peace is based on truth, justice, and kindness. With their lucid song, these artists also confront the evil in this world and promise to stand up for the fight. Their song is an appeal to each of us to join in and make a change; it seeks to eliminate our isolation and loneliness and invites us to hold hands and share in the same well of strength and energy for a better world.

To every participating poet and visual artist, and to everyone who directly or indirectly joined in the making of this book and in the spread of its message, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude. My appreciation also goes to Jerry Judge, Kamal Kimball and Annette Januzzi Wick who kindly reviewed all the submitted poems and provided their editorial advice.

For a better world, always, a world of love, peace and justice.

Saad Ghosn Book editor and organizer

May 2018

"For a Better World" 2018

PoetPoems/Visual Artist Page

Ellen Austin-Li

The Comfort of Millions 1-3

Postcard Protest 3

Bombogenesis 4

Drawing by Madeleine Witte

Marc Baskind

Refugee5-7

Diana Becket

Knock at Our Door

5-7

Crossing the Water8

Elegy for CHIP8

Drawing by Susanna Terrill

Amy BauerTwo Different Worlds9-11

Fruit11

Richard L. Westheimer

The Mask Is Off, January 2017

9-12

Drawing by Teresa Koester

Diana Becket5-8

Phebe (Karen) Beiser

Two Women Wearing Wreaths in Their Hair 13-15

Peace15

Laurie Lambert

Weeding the Labyrinth13-15

Drawing by Lindsay Farrell

Camden Bentley

Colorblind 17-19

Kristina Nichole Brodbeck Heat17-19

Justin WilliamsMy Country's Kitchen17-21

Drawing by Richie Gould

Matthew Birkenhauer"Let's Make America Great Again"23-25

Diane Germaine Rituals 23-25

The Daily Papers or Oblivion26

Drawing by Christian Schmit

Nneka Bonner

When All Hands Are Raised

27-29

Star Candelaria

No Justice, No Peace

27-30

Post-Election Thoughts31

Drawing by Ellen Price

Joshua Brackenridge I Do the Same Things

33-35

Desirae Hosley

Voiceless Voices33-36

Drawing by Derek Toebbe

Kristina Nichole Brodbeck17-19

Star Candelaria27-31

Timothy Cannon

Mist in My Eyes 37-39

Ella Cather-Davis

The Breathing Tree37-39

Self40

I Love You in This Moment

40

Drawing by Charles Schickel

Marolee Collins

LifeBreath41-43

Carol Feiser Laque

The Face of Water41-44

Drawing by Tori Woodruff

Kai Crawford

Untitled Words45-47

Intrusive Thoughts 47

Kathy Longshore

An Anthem of Anguish and Frustration

45-47

Drawing by Gabrielle Roach

John CruzeThe River Judgment

49-51

Money Tree51

Hollow Points51

Drawing by Matthew Luehrmann

Donelle Dreese

Petra Kelly to Her Green Party Partner

and Colleague Gert Bastain 53-55

The Sugared World55

Love Canal Haiku55

Drawing by Justin Brown

Holly EndJanuary 201757-59

Shannon Quay

Mothers57-59

Taunja Thomson

Grandmother57-59

Drawing by Sarah Francis Hollis

Mark Flanigan

Enlightenment at the Buddhist Temple

61-63

Untitled63

Juanita Mays

Pray for Voices of Doves to Be Heard

Again in the Land61-63

Joy in Troubled Times (a triptych)

64

What to Do?64

Drawing by Stergios (Nick) Petas

Charles Finney

How So?65-67

Carol IgoeA Good Man: Indianapolis April 4, 1968

65-67

Noel ZeiserLook, Mister 65-67

Finding Pause68

Drawing by Qianhui Zhi

Kara GallCaught Against a Fence69-71

Sue Neufarth Howard

The Peace of Wandering

69-71

Linda Kleinschmidt

Always Peace 69-71

Forgotten Memories72

Drawing by Christina Vuotto

Brian GarryWe Don't Talk About This73-75

Patricia Garry

Why Is It So?73-75

Mary Nemeth

Too Powerful to Fall73-75

Drawing by April Huerta

Diane Germaine 23-26

Paula Grapevine

Song of Peace77-79

Nicasio Urbina

Fight77-79

Corn79

Drawing by Lauren Boeing

Robin Grisham

Gargantuan Cataclysmic Wingspans

81-83

Elaine Olund

Call to Arms 81-83

Casting Stones84-85

Havens85-86

Drawing by Megan Hustmyer

Gerry Grubbs

Who You Are 87-89

Together89

Fred Tarrwhen the love I give to someone in need... 87-90

Drawing by Mario Barbi

Richard Hague

Steps In Defending One's Self from

"Empowered Ignorance"91-93

Annette (Toni) LacknerAngoville-au-Plain91-94

Drawing by Virginia Elliott

Karen Heaster

You Shouldn't Do That at Your Age

95-97

Terry Petersen

Trickle Up (About Love, Not Theory)

95-97

Summer Trick or Treat97-98

The National Anthem--Revisited Someday 98

Drawing by Joseph Greulich

Mike Heilman

Amtrak Cincinnati to Chicago 3/12

99-101

Tenementality101

Mni Waconi (Water Is Life)

102

Drawing by Thomas Boeing

Mary-Pat Hester

Guns103-105

Paul ShorttOpen Carry Kitchen103-105

Jihad106

Drawing by Sheri Besso

Desirae Hosley33-36

Sue Neufarth Howard69-71

Carol Igoe65-67

Karen Jaquish

L'Occupation107-109

What Remains 110

Sugar, Salt, Stone111-112

Drawing by Loyola Walter

Nancy Jentsch Murmurs113-115 Kamal E. KimballWomen's Work113-115 Fetch116 Offerings 116 Drawing by Samantha Lakamp

Jerry JudgeWaiting in Line117-119

State of the Union Address - 2018119

Kevin C. McHugh

I Do Not Know You

117-120

Drawing by Emily Tallarigo

Lonna Kingsbury

Underscored - the Music

121-123

The Games123

Mark Louis Lehman

Threnody for the Lost

121-123

Drawing by Gabrielle Sapata

Kamal E. Kimball113-116

Linda Kleinschmidt

69-72

Alistair J. Kraft

Untitled 1 125-127

Cry of Grief127

Josie SmithBorn a Girl125-127

Drawing by Denise Wellbrock

Marilyn Krebs

Living Outside129-131

The Color of Justice131

Bill Mc Cormick

discomfort 129-131

Owed to Us--A Declaration

132

A Kind America132

Drawing by Russell Hausfeld

Annette (Toni) Lackner91-94

Laurie Lambert13-15

Carol Feiser Laque 41-44

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