Thursday, October 15, 2015

An Innocent Man – v2

What will we say to their loved ones
when that day comes
when an innocent man
is sent to his death

When an innocent woman
is strapped to a gurney
what will we say
to them, to the dead

What will we say
as a people, a nation,
when the ultimate price
falls on the innocent

What will we say
as a nation, as America
when revenge, retribution,
pays the ultimate cost

What will we say
when we lament for the reality
that this has happened
over and over again

==============
edited October 15, 2015
An Innocent Man – v2

the work of Helen Prejean
and all those others fighting against
capital punishment
Blog Action Day 2015 – “Raise Your Voice”
October 16, 2015
&
September 22, 2011
An Innocent Man
------------------
My Facebook note, September 22, 2011
“I pray that the investigation of the truth in this case will not end with his death. The death penalty will only be eliminated as a punishment in this country if we are forced as a people to stare at the consequence of killing an innocent person. Mr. Davis may not be that person; but that day will come, based on this being a human process. Too many people on death row have been found to be innocent; the probabilities are there. That awful day will come.”
Articles on Troy Davis execution
Article on 10 Reasons he should not be put to death
My Facebook note, September 21, 2011
“If there is doubt about the truth of his quilt, the execution should be stayed until further investigation is completed.”
---------------
& 9/11 poems
------------------
Seeds of Hate

Seeds of hate, of rage
in the burning tower
separating the nations
the peoples of faith

Anguish, suffering
martyrs alike
claiming the creator
in the fists of our rage

September 21, 2011
-----
September 11, 2011
10th anniversary of September 11, 2001
and the plot to attack DC and NY
reported September 9, 2011
------
As I woke this morning – v2

As I woke this morning, I remembered
I remembered that day, the exact moment
pain afresh, reliving, so clear, so vivid
when I saw the towers, innocence burning
our lives never the same, different
a shower of debris. The gasps, of each new person
coming into the room, silent, crying
seeing the images, over and over
Feeling the same ache as when
I watched the Challenger
explode in the sky.
So much lost
We watched, unsure
tears streaming down, helpless
Attacked on our soil, numb
disbelieving, even though seeing
I remember the air in the lounge,
all of us strangers, together
the small screen too big
showing too vividly the pain
the anguish, the towers hit, falling
plumes of smoke, of flame
darkness that morning, echoing still
friends, new friends, in the room
who may have loved ones in New York
in the Pentagon, at that moment
of different races, religions
from around the globe;
a call on a cell phone
All transfixed, unable to move


September 10, 2011
all of my September 11, 2001 poems


All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,200+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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