Torture Poem

So - during my Silent Retreat, I was compelled to write poetry. After some editing post-silence, this is what I came up with:

Justice Asunder
July 2008

stifled humanity –
sequestered indefinitely
sold for bounty –
silenced.

strained,
strung,
stretched,
scavenged for details, sources secondary.

savagery:
“saving lives,” yet
selling out the soldiers while
shamelessly gutting the law.

shocked strangers
shrink; terror abides
shadows loom
suffering strengthens.

seldom seen:
safety. In its
stead,
systematic barbarism.

sunlight scorches,
sleep disrupted
screaming daily
sounds heard nowhere.

sincerity neglected
suspects shrivel
secrecy reigns
sentencing suspended.

supreme court ruled
senate overturned
semblance of justice lacks
shred of authenticity.

suicide watch high
successful on occasion.
still they languish
striving for soul’s release.

slowly attention mounts
small groups push for more
steady message: dignity,
sacred life for all.

sadly Power resists
shrouds ugliness with lies
speaks of “saving American lives”
seduces public with Fear.

sleeping society awaken.
snatch back the convictions
said to be foundational.
sing honestly of justice for all.

sever the severe
soberly confess, redress, return.
sanctify the wretched
serve the sick

seal the taverns of indecency
step into the light of humanity
sustain the progress with
spirited review.