“For a Better World” 2020 Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice by Greater Cincinnati Artists Editor: Saad Ghosn To how little control we really have. Foreword Lockdown* To what really matters. To Love. Yes there is fear. So we pray and we remember that At the time of writing this foreword the world is being battered all over by the Covid-19 Yes there is isolation. pandemic. Life as we usually know it has stopped and people are suffering and dying by Yes there is fear. Yes there is panic buying. the hundred of thousands and millions with few signs yet of a happy resolution. A less than But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is sickness. a micron-sized virus is spreading everywhere and attacking anyone irrespectively, causing Yes there is isolation. wide damage, shattering at the same time the mere notion of power, social status, control. Yes there is even death. But there does not have to be loneliness. It is highliting our inherent vulnerability and our weakness when facing the forces of nature, But, Yes there is panic buying. but also our strength as a human race to use the best in us to promote love, connectedness, They say that in Wuhan after so many But there does not have to be meanness. compassion, unselfish giving, spiritual growth. years of noise This book, composed before the current pandemic started, does not include, as a resut, poems Yes there is sickness. You can hear the birds again. addressing it. Many of the poets, however, deal through their poems with other long known and But there does not have to be disease of They say that after just a few weeks of prevailing pandemics in our world, namely those of greed, violence, discremination, prejudice, the soul social and economic disparity, destruction of the environment, to name only few, aiming at quiet Yes there is even death. raising awareness about them, and trying to help erasing them for a better world. The sky is no longer thick with fumes But there can always be a rebirth of love. But blue and grey and clear. In this 17th edition of “For a Better World” sixty five poets and thirty four visual artists use Wake to the choices you make as to how They say that in the streets of Assisi their poetic voice and their artistic power to contribute to social justice in our world, fighting to live now. for everyone’s rights, for the discriminated against, the oppressed, the weak and the poor; to People are singing to each other Today, breathe. combat darkness, violence and evil; and to spread love, peace and justice. They speak for across the empty squares, Listen, behind the factory noises of your a world after their heart and values, an equal world of hope, fraternity and unity. Of all ages keeping their windows open panic and backgrounds, their art and talent state their concerns and affirm their beliefs and values. so that those who are alone By doing so, they also strengthen each other’s diverse voices and give life to their hopes and The birds are singing again may hear the sounds of family around dreams. The sky is clearing, them. In a world still prey to injustice and wars, these artists weep for the dead, revolt for the Spring is coming, oppressed, denounce unjust societal wrongs, advocate for the poor, the homeless, and the They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland And we are always encompassed by neglected, reject violence and its consequences, fight for the battered environment, champion Is offering free meals and delivery to the Love. human rights. They also challenge the prevailing societal values of materialism, consumerism housebound. Open the windows of your soul and domination and speak for a change in values towards love, compassion and forgiveness. Today a young woman I know They paint a beautiful world, a world of diversity and equality, where peace is based on truth, And though you may not be able is busy spreading fliers with her number justice, and kindness, and on the unique rich contribution of every individual. to touch across the empty square, through the neighbourhood With their lucid song, these artists also confront the evil in this world and promise to stand up Sing. for the fight. Their song is an appeal to each of us to join in and make a change; it seeks to So that the elders may have someone to eliminate our isolation and loneliness and invites us to hold hands and share in the same well call on. of strength and energy for a better world. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples Richard Hendrick 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. are preparing to welcome My appreciation also goes to Diana Becker, Jerry Judge, and Roberta Schultz, who kindly and and shelter the homeless, the sick, the generously reviewed all the submitted poems and provided their editorial advice. weary *Poem written by Irish priest Richard For a better world, always, a world of love, peace and justice. All over the world people are slowing down Hendrick after all of Ireland closed down Saad Ghosn, Book editor and organizer and reflecting in response to the Covid 19 Coronavirus May 2020 All over the world people are looking at pandemic. their neighbours in a new way ps. This book is dedicated to all those who suffered, died, felt isolated and neglected during All over the world people are waking up to the current pandemic crisis; also to all those who courageously and unselfihly donated of themselves, their time, their energy, threir skills, their wealth, their love... to combat this crisis a new reality Published in 2020 by Ghosn Publishing and contribute to a better world. (And to all those who will still do until the end of the crisis.) To how big we really are. ISBN 978-1-7321135-5-8 Emily Chapin Peace Along the River 31-33 “For a Better World” 2020 Sue Neufarth Howard How To Make Your Soul Soar 31-33 Zohreh Zand Kintsugi 31-33 Drawing by Samantha Haring Poet Poems/Visual Artist Page Cynthia Perry Colebrook To a Difficult Boss 35-37 Everything Counts for Something 37 Courtney Barnoski Conversion: A Journey 1-3 Alison Covey Taylor Blanket 35-37 Phebe (Karen) Beiser 50 years after Stonewall 1-4 Drawing by Savanna Innes Drawing by Noël Freya Waltz Margaret Dedger Chaos 39-41 T. Bartlett Hell’s Hollow 5-7 Metropolis 41 Don’t Forget to Smile 8 Richard Hague The Tranquility Trials 39-43 The Lady’s Hopeful Sonnet 8 Drawing by Taryn Zust Kathy Longshore America the (not so) Beautiful 5-7 Drawing by John Smithmeyer Penelope Epple My Body is not Mine 45-47 Barbara Marie Minney Trans Privilege 45-49 Diana Becket Border Pen 9-11 Cognitive Dissonance 49-50 Zero Care 11 Drawing by Em Sanning Mary Nemeth The News 9-11 Choices 12 Kira Evans 7 Steps 51-54 Spineless 12 Robin Rich Talk to your White People 51-54 Drawing by Maureen Radcliffe George Drawing by Gift Mayambi Phebe Beiser 1-4 Mark Flanigan The Art of Letting Go 55-57 Patricia Garry Listening – Teaching What I Need to Learn 55-57 Matt Birkenhauer Kenner Toys 13-15 Drawing by Saad Ghosn God and Country 15 Carol Feiser Laque Child Trafficking 13-15 Gary Gaffney Look at Us 59-61 Plantation Politics 16 Linda Kleinschmidt Two Crows Fighting 59-61 Drawing by Tina Westerkamp Inside Dreams 61 Drawing by Fred Schnell Kelsey Boudreaux Disabled 17-19 Courtney Rose Courage 17-19 Brian Garry Rain 63-65 Drawing by Nina Wesley Jeff Hillard After the Flood 63-65 Sweet Angel 66 Michael Burnham At the Jimmy Heath House 21-24 Drawing by John Hankiewicz Pill Hill, 2018 25 Just Another Old Cassandra 25-26 Patricia Garry 55-57 Drawing by Henry Burdsall Diane Germaine It’s Christmas and It’s Raining 67-69 Ella Cather-Davis The Rescuer 27-29 Like Putin 70 What’s It All About 30 Paul Shortt 2020 67-69 Nancy Jentsch Virginia Beach, May 31, 2019 27-29 Drawing by Ellen Price Our Inferno 30 Drawing by Alexa Marines Susan F. Glassmeyer There Are People Who Know What Assault Laurie Lambert 95-98 Rifle Ammo Does to a Human Body 71-73 Let Them See What They Have Done 74 Carol Feiser Laque 13-16 Terry Petersen Lost—Again 71-73 Man with the Black Shirt 74 Rebecca S. Lindsay Psalm for Peace 99-101 A Blue Bike 75 Western Wall 102 Drawing by Anisha Kanakia Sanghani Dexter Simpson A Modern Magnificat 99-101 Drawing by Paige Wideman Richard Hague 39-43 Kathy Longshore 5-7 Tiffany Renee Harmon The World Ablaze 77-79 American Exodus 79 Barbara Marie Minney 45-50 Welcome to 2020 81 Sydney Trasser The Sun, My Flesh & All The Dead Kids 77-79 Mary Nemeth 9-12 The Devolution of Humans 80-81 Drawing by Jillian Campagna Michael J Olson I See a Room with Dark Windows 103-106 Nicasio Urbina I Ask that My Body (Pido que Mi Cuerpo) 103-105 Jeff Hillard 63-66 We Have Seen (Hemos Visto) 105 Drawing by Aspeyn Langhals Sue Neufarth Howard 31-33 Carissa Palazzolo Convictions 107-109 Deanna Hurtubise # A Utopian Tweet for Our Times 83-85 Chuck Stringer An Addict’s Dream 107-109 Marilyn Krebs Keyed Up 83-85 Ask 109 A Musical Peace 86 Drawing by Vernay Monroe It’s Only Free for Me 86 Drawing by Anna Cadle Terry Petersen 71-75 Carol Igoe Home Grown Apartheid 87-90 Rhonda Pettit Eve’s Ear 111-113 Lindsey Shackelford Freedom 87-89 Lisa Prantl Delivery 111-113 Drawing by Casey Dressell Giving Sausage a Bad Name 114 Drawing by Regan Detwiler Nancy Jentsch 27-30 Joni Pipkins Hands That Picked Cotton Victoria Kahle enough 91-93 Now Cast Their Ballots 115-117 Jean Syed The Insurance Man 91-93 Noella Poinsette Por Mi Familia 115-117 Mike Wilson Sharkskin Suits 91-93 The Color of Dirty Water 118 Free Verse 94 Drawing by Tom Towhey Drawing by Mallory Feltz Lisa Prantl 111-113 Lonna D.