Category Archives: sonnets

“Who controls the past controls the future; Who controls the present controls the past.”* By whose law, like gods, do we assign rights by stricture? On what moral precept tear families apart, aghast? Tutu saw whites shoot blacks in their own backyards, Helped initiate the demand that Mandela be released From prison for ‘political’ crimes.Continue reading “1984 – Desmond Tutu – 2”

Desmond Tutu was born in South Africa, poor. He trained as a teacher but wanted to be a doctor. Because this was not permitted, he asked, ‘What can I do?’ And a churchman he could be. A black man In apartheid’s time, he championed progressive change By non-violent means. His leadership skills ranged From buildingContinue reading “1984 – Desmond Tutu”

Lech Walesa was born in Poland and became An electrician and mechanic. He supported Student strikes, was bugged by secret police, thwarted. He worked at the Shipyards, was fired, in shame For trying to organize workers for better conditions. Men were dying, undervalued, underpaid. Imprisoned And later released, he climbed the walls to lead TheContinue reading “1983 – Lech Walesa”

Alva Myrdal, a Swede, worked to assure Nuclear weapons-free zones in Europe and through Her work at the U.N.  Weapons should be reduced, Since violence could never to victory lead. To endure, It was more important not to have nuclear arms At all than have access and superpower rivalry. Alarm Must produce concrete disarmament ofContinue reading “1982 – Alva Myrdal and Alfonso Garcia Robles”

At this time, the number of refugees worldwide Was estimated at fourteen to eighteen million persons. This U.N. Commission worked side by side With diplomatic outreach and careful precision, To, first, assure the health and safety of refugees, And then secure cooperative agreements to ease Their transitions. From war or security’s lapses they flee, Stateless.Continue reading “1981 – Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees”

When Argentina experienced this deadly strife, Both Left and Right embraced strong extremists. The military, through Videla, took 30,000 lives, And the whispered and terrible anguish of ‘disappearance’ Engulfed the desperate “under a veil of silence, Without any public announcements, without any trial or verdict.”* Esquivel felt talk alone was insufficient hindrance To “torture, imprisonment,Continue reading “1980 – Adolfo Perez Esquivel – 2”

Adolfo Esquivel was born in ’31 to the family Of a Spanish fisherman. His mother died when he was three. Yes, he grew up the son of an immigrant to Argentina. As a child he was drawn to reading – Augustine, Ghandi – and to fine arts studies. He was actually seen As an artistContinue reading “1980 – Adolfo Perez Esquivel”

In Mother Teresa’s acceptance speech, she said, “I accept the prize in the name of the poor. The prize is the recognition of the poor World,” And harkened all to the biblical texts:  at our death, What would matter would be to have helped those who were hungry, Hungry for bread, for love and humanContinue reading “1979 – Mother Teresa – 2”

Here was an Albanian Catholic girl named Agnes. She followed news of missionaries helping the poor. The Loreto Sisters in Dublin helped her:  blessed Her trip to their Calcutta convent, their mission, pure. ‘Teresa ‘ she took, and taught geography to girls. Then, on a train trip, God called her to leave in order toContinue reading “1979 – Mother Teresa”

Sadat and Begin won the prize this year for their efforts To come to a peaceful resolution between Israel and Egypt. Israel militantly claimed lands along the Sinai, which hurt Arabs’ ownership rights and Palestinian lands and ports. Begin had a history as a fighter for the ‘Great Israel’ state, Which engendered in Arabs andContinue reading “1978 – Anwar el-Sadat and Menachem Begin”