… skirting on the heels of yet another controversial decision of the American judicial system, there have been countless discussions about the execution of Troy Davis. In the last weeks of his life, people of all ranks and origins petitioned and rallied for a life that had been fighting for justice for over twenty years; taking to social media and the streets alike, numbers worldwide joined his battle.  Whether these efforts were too little, too late or death at 7:00PM on Wednesday, September 21^st, 2011 was always in the cards will never be known but hopefully the loss of this life can spark a much needed flame of acknowledgment and shed light on the need for change.

Having read and seen a myriad of pieces covering Troy Davis’ last appeal and witnessing the lack of a greater movement towards humanity, I was inclined to write a piece of my own taking a mere glimpse at the topic at hand and its overall indications of mankind. Using a case that, unfortunately, may hit close to home for so many people, I’ve put into words the feelings of a somewhat dejected but hopeful soul; someone wishing for that spark …

Steak and Lobster

who knew testimonies

from the blur of the night

could stand as proof

because no one has ever met a liar before

or a man so hungry

he’d say whatever he had to for a dollar

if words carry weight enough

to negate the absence of evidence

why couldn’t the pleas

of the questionably convicted

break the Board

in a system that’s already been proven broken

just another Little John

fighting for one more day in a place most wish they could escape

another John Doe

nameless and lost in the cycle of a world

focused on all the wrong things

while you worry about the latest trends

he struggles to hold on to what sun on skin feels like

remember how it felt

to sleep in the arms of a loved one

and tries to ignore the what if’s

[he should have left a little earlier]

retracing the night

why is he the only person

that can still recall the minutes by seconds

and knows for certain what he saw

nothing

maybe that’s the issue

no one ever really sees anything

we’re too busy protecting our own necks

to notice the real hopelessness of everything around us

pointing blind fingers

implementing false blame

all for a greater purpose

we don’t completely understand

but force ourselves to believe in

how else could one sleep at night

it’s easier to ride the wave

than swim against the current

if you can even swim at all

in these crowded waters

filled with those trying to stay afloat

long enough to catch a break of their own

the trouble is

too many people are fighting for too many things

for a difference to really be made

today we need milk, tomorrow will be honey

a Movement Towards Humanity is too big of a cause

so we march for what seems most important now

chipping away at an iceberg

that emerges from unimaginable depths

leaving fragments of conflicts to be dealt with

until a heavier one smashes into our life’s surface

and demands our attention

so where are this millennium’s leaders

everyone is waiting for someone else’s voice to follow

waiting to be in the right place

at the right time

and hoping the moment doesn’t pass too quickly

for them,

and the world,

to grab a hold of it

because we all know

‘wrong place, wrong time’

happens more often than the former

and the price to pay for that is never fair

alas, when the jury reads ‘Guilty’ on the count of murder

order the most expensive meal

surf and turf

after all

you settle the bill with your life