Good Trouble Truth (Remembering John Lewis)
Good Trouble Truth
(Remembering John Lewis)
Because you knew the truth
when we broke shy of truths
scorning creeds
from minds
strapped tight
to totems
edicts chiseled
deep in stone
Because you trained
Your daily flesh
as votive to your truth
Our thoughts ignited
words that you
poured hot into
our animal life
We spoke as you did
marched singing as you did
bowed toward your lead
bore cudgels, bullets, chains
Some of us died
All of us cried exulting
in the truth that
cut through creeds
Because you honed
The nerve
To charge our rights
Because you ground
out rights
with blood
You shed, spliced into
Our bloodstream
forging a covenant
constant as our revolution
round the sun
Because it was your will
that primed this truth:
We are the ones
who overcome
We are the ones
who give out rights
as gifts
to one another
steering home
Our birthright.
–Mara Lemanis
Mara Lemanis
Biography: Mara Lemanis is a literary scholar. Her essays have been selected for 20th CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM and are included in undergraduate student textbooks in the U.S.
She has worked as an archivist for Historical Preservation and with the IRC, assisting refugees in Oakland, California.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed within this guest article are those of the author Mara Lemanis alone and do not represent those of the Marbella Marbella website. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to Mara Lemanis and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with the author.
