Give Until You Cannot Give Anymore

Ride freely

across the bridge 

of change, look knowingly back, 

at generations walking 

with the wind, that whispered

of a new day...Breathe 

it in, believe 

(your) life matters

Stand together unbroken

upon the foundation

of Liberty, pursuing

A love close to

freedom*

—-Art Collaboration with @Ghosthousemedia for the artivist challenge by @saveartspace and @art4equality organizations who challenged artists to create pieces on what Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness means (to us.) Winning pieces will be displayed on billboards in NYC.

Our piece honors John Lewis, activist, congressman, Civil Rights champion, and the “good trouble” he made while challenging racism in America. He passed away in July 2020.  The poem is inspired by the words of Mr. Lewis, in speeches, books, advice to others.  The Title is a quote by Lewis, his advice to Black Lives Matter protestors in 2020.
Lewis was one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. He fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movementand its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. In 1965, Lewis led the first of three Selma to Montgomery marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In an incident which became known as Bloody Sunday, state troopers and police attacked the marchers, including Lewis. [Wikipedia]

 *End Quote is by James Baldwin activist/author (1940s), another important figure in the civil rights movement.