PeaceWorks Kansas City

A Tribute to Ann

Ann Suellentrop and Henry Stoever at courthouse

Ann presents a message of peace at her courthouse rally.–Photos by Kriss Avery

by Michael McGrath

Ann’s witness  
You will follow our rules. 
I will not.  
Our rules are just and good.  

They are not.  
Who made you the judge? 
God did. 
How did that happen? 
When my conscience was formed  
To follow the law of love.  
There is no rule greater.  
I will follow  
No rule to destroy, 
No rule to discriminate,  
No rule to oppress.  
If you make these,  
disobedience will follow,  
BUT NO GUILT!

A Tribute to Ann

A poetic tribute to Ann by Michael McGrath

Poppy Poem

"I plant poppies for protesters / For petitioners, for picket lines, and peace workers," says AP, the Poet, program director for Poetic Underground KC.

Resurrection Poem

It's the evening before Easter I read my daughter a children's book About Nina Simone Anna is curious

Multiple Steps for Peace

"Once again we return / To this site / Of immense / Destruction" -- so begins this poem by Ron Faust about the annual PeaceWorks Memorial Day observance. It occurs near the KC National Security Campus, where parts are made for nuclear weapons.

Bye-Bye War

Ron Faust, in a poem, asks: What if we took part in provoking the Ukraine war / By continuing the Cold war / By hate rhetoric for an enemy ... ?

Masks of Lies

The worse scare of Halloween is the deniers Who wear their masks of deceit in public Pretending to care for the down and outers But actually protecting their greedy interests

Knotty Karma

Ron Faust, poet, heard Japanese-Americans say on Aug. 7, “We should never build another nuclear weapon.” He wrote a warning: “As long as we are stuck (with the world having 13,000 nukes), We will shorten the time of the Doomsday Clock.”

Faust’s poetry scans American legacy, warts and all

Ron Faust, in his introduction to his new book, Percolating Poetry, says, “To have a cup of coffee / Is to take a break in the action.” He offers hope—saying hope lies in abolishing all nuclear weapons—and the fun of a few love poems.

From “Trespassing” to “Rainy Daffodils”—April poems

A passel of poems by Ron Faust: “Trespassing,” crossing a line not irrelevant; “The Great Divide,” honoring a falsely accused senator; “On Earth Day,” walking the tender Earth; and “Rainy Daffodils.”

Unprecedented (buy the book!)

Ron Faust, PeaceWorks-KC’s own poet laureate, is out with a new book of poetry. Titled Unprecedented, Faust wrote it during the presidency of Donald Trump. The cover displays two mountain ranges under clouds of darkness. These represent the two sides of every issue, Faust explains.

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PeaceWorks Kansas City

A Tribute to Ann

Related Stories

A Tribute to Ann

Poppy Poem

Resurrection Poem

Multiple Steps for Peace

Bye-Bye War

Masks of Lies

Knotty Karma

Faust’s poetry scans American legacy, warts and all

From “Trespassing” to “Rainy Daffodils”—April poems

Unprecedented (buy the book!)

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