On this last day of February*, after scrapping several attempts to craft a blog post based upon my own feelings of overwhelm during the relentless escalation of ICE these past months, I received the March newsletter from The Poetry Society of South Carolina** in my email.
Therein I learned of SC native son, J. Drew Lanham – poet, ornithologist and 2022 MacArthur Fellowship recipient who would be leading a workshop and reading sponsored by The Poetry Society of South Carolina in Greenville, SC*** on 3/14/26.
“…any bias is predatory. For us to understand that social justice and environmental justice are inextricably linked is critical. I want my work to inspire – I want it to inspire head, to inspire heart and I want it to inspire some action for a better future.”
J. Drew Lanham
When I began my own research of this new-to-me poet, my eyes quickly landed upon the title of his newest book of poems and prose, Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves.
I did a double take on this title. Did you, too?
It hit me right where I am at in this moment. The joining of the times, emotional exhaustion, living out my values and convictions with empathy, doing what I can, using my (he)art to reach out/speak out, yet vacillating between is it enough? does it really count?
And here was an encouragement offered to me this very day: Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves.
Hoping the book’s title was also in fact the title of a poem contained within its pages, I googled it and was hugely rewarded. Numerous on-line magazines, organizations, poetry reading meetings, and reviewers offer complete versions of the poem – in both written and audio format read by the poet J. Drew Lanham himself.
Excerpts from: Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves by J. Drew Lanham
~
Joy is the truth,
crooked lies hammered straight,
whitewashed myths
wiped away.
Stone Mountain
- just stone.
Rushmore
- no more.
Give the eagles
their mountains back.
~
Joy is the good news,
without new dead names,
no chokeholds or murdering knees.
A night of sleep
in your very own bed
without shots in the dark
- no more not waking up,
full of lead.
~
Little did this poet know how well a stanza of this poem would segue into the ornithological depiction of resistance to the current state of our nation as discussed below. Thank you, sir.
Joy is the murmuration,
then the stillness.
South Carolina Rebel Bird
The Rebel Bird logos**** are based upon the Star Wars Rebel Alliance emblem. They incorporate local state identity & flag symbolism to signal collective strength, opposition, and resistance against the current administration’s sanctioned ICE enforcement violence. In addition, Rebel Birds are a symbol of hope, freedom, and resistance against tyranny.
The Carolina Wren is set against the Palmetto Moon ( SC state bird & flag), standing on a combined Carolina single territory image. I take this as a nod to our Carolina Cousins to the North, although it may have been a designer error! 🙂
*coincidentally the last day of Black History Month – which was ‘erased’ in 2025 (here & here) and resurrected in 2026 in the context of ‘250 years of American Independence’ celebration.
**an organization of which I recently discovered and joined in January.
***a 2 hour 45 minute drive from where I live – well worth the drive & effort.
****created in January 2026 by Minnesota-based designers as a symbol of resistance in response to ICE activity.
Laura, I love this post! Thank you so much for sharing about Lanham; his thoughts and beliefs are heartwarming, his poetry powerful and uplifting.
You’re more than welcome…the power and uplift is much needed these days – birthed out of genuine experiences, observations and grit, they speak truth to power above the constant din of loud voices of no substance but too much consequence.
I’ve despaired of writing a blog post too during these ever more surreal times, but grateful you posted yours. Glad to hear Lanham has a new must-read book out. I really enjoyed his memoir, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature.
Laura, very cool that you already knew of this author/poet/scientist! Take care.
Thank you for the introduction to this poet.
In these trying times where we can succumb to negativity, this post contained many things that continue to inspire me: conservationists; environmentalists; integrity; justice; birds; poetry.
For poetry, the things that immediately caught my imagination/attention:
‘Joy is the murmuration,
then the stillness.’
‘Give the eagles
their mountains back.’
‘The Carolina Wren.’
Andy, I purposely highlighted the ‘murmuration’ quote thinking of you! The Carolina Wren as a Rebel Bird feels like a ‘Manc’ thing to me. 😉
FYI: I sent a reply email a few days ago, keep an eye out for it.
This is my first time hearing about him, so thank you for introducing him and his work. Those stanzas are powerful.
You’re very welcome, Edward! Thanks for stopping by.
My pleasure.
Interesting post, Laura. I also thank you for introducing me to J. Drew Lanham. Poetry has a way of expressing emotion and various concepts like no other way can.
“That’s all conservation is-in leaving it better than you found it means that you have to have some degree of care and love for people you don’t even know.” A fundamental concept that has crossed all of the ages and yet, we humans have not mastered it. There would be enough of that elusive joy for everyone if we would only do this one thing.
The Golden Rule applies across all areas of life, ya know?
I loved this. Several things stood out. What Lanham said in video about being Black in public spaces reminded me of an essay I read long ago that really helped me understand something I wasn’t aware of. It was a large Black man telling about jogging through his middle class neighborhood and how people reacted to seeing him with alarm and fear. I imagine its the same way with Lanham hiking through remote terrain. How horrible that must feel.
Like you, I also had to stop and think about that title–Joy and Justice. Such a deep connection going on there.
Lastly, that wonderful Rebel Bird logo reminded me of the Mockingjay in the Hunger Game series became a symbol for resistance and justice.
Thank you for sharing this. I too wonder if I’m doing enough, and suspect that I am not. But we do what we can and support those who can do more. At least that’s how I’m thinking of it now. Hugs, my friend.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, Deborah. The unexpectedness of ‘Joy & Justice’ was an encouragement I wanted to pass on to all who read these posts of mine! Real people living out real lives dealing with real issues in real time and creating beauty…if all I do is keep their stories in the forefront of my tiny corner of the world – that is part of the doing, too IMHO.
Enjoy your current (he)artistic journey – a freely given bit of Joy for you to absorb. hugs back, flower-sister.
Perfect. I drove by demonstrations here against ICE yesterday literally on every major street corner. I couldn’t stop honking out of solidarity.
Hey Marty, I could hear you all the way down here – HA! I’m forwarding/sending you an email about a ‘resistance art exhibit’ our middle daughter
(https://laurabrunolilly.com/giving-voice-a-usaid-funded-researchers-perspective-on-2025-changes-pt1/) got accepted into that’s showing next week in your fair city – I love how rusty-rooted, grass roots Michigan is!
Thank you very much Laura for sharing this powerful message. Sending you strength and care. 🫂💜
I like that it is a ‘living message’…ya know? hugs
There is so much to digest in this post. Thank you for introducing me to J. Drew Lanham. May is view wash over the world. Head to heart.
Meanwhile, take heart dear Laura. This ice-y madness must surely end
Thank you, Mariss. From head to heart across many seas…
Wonderful!
🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Laura. I can imagine how you felt when you discovered his book and poetry. The bird logo is stunning.
I have to admit, the SC flag is a good-looking one! So it translated well into this Rebel Bird context.
Yes!
Terrific poem (this coming from a guy who doesn’t read much poetry). I really like the line “crooked lies hammered straight,” since we see so much of that these days.
My dad was a wildlife biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service, who specialized in ornithology. I suspect that many of those positions have been eliminated. My cousin intended to work a few more years than she did, but morale was at an all-time low with the EPA that she left.
I’ll bet you and your brothers enjoyed all the perks of such a job your Dad had! 🙂
I think your suspicions are gravely warranted – but no matter the political ‘climate’ (pun intended) the desire to learn biology as the living science and curiosity of our living planet will continue to draw incoming generations. Since Parkland, I have every confidence in the upcoming generations to find their niches regardless of the huge obstacles those in power put before them…
That said, I hope your cousin has found a replacement job. It’s tough out there!
Fabulous poem and Rebel Bird logo. That workshop and reading sounds like it will be well worth a drive. I hope you share your experience.
I feel the atmosphere charging up for the workshop/reading even as we communicate!
Laura, Thank you so much for this lovely post. Thank you also for sharing how current events are affecting your state of mind. I find that recent national and international events affect me VERY personally. I am not too surprised that we have that in common. Take care! ❤️
I’m not too surprised, either, Cheryl. Since we share a similar region of the country where we live right now, I thought this extra vid would interest you – especially as a biologist/poet yourself! 😉
https://youtu.be/4f7dqDSXMUg?si=ry5T4rm29MnYXs9a
This is the vid I referenced in my reply to Marie.
What excellent timing, Laura! Denham is new to me too, and I must get more of his poetry. Reading the excerpts of “Joy” was so soothing and reassuring. Thank you so much for sharing it!
I struggle every day with whether I’m doing enough, whether I have the energy to do more (I don’t), and whether I should be writing more instead of knitting (no on that one, too). We ordinary people do simply what we can.
If you go to the workshop, I hope you write about your experience.
You’re very welcome, Marie. He’s a fine example of an everyday American doing what he does, enriching his world with sharing & living his discoveries and loves. “We ordinary people do simply what we can.” And that’s what real life is all about – we keep the world going, ya know? A cool quote from JDL is found in the vid I linked to in Cheryl’s response. It goes like this: “That’s all conservation is-in leaving it better than you found it means that you have to have some degree of care and love for people you don’t even know. Wow! What a concept! Right? That means you’re gonna have to think outside yourself…”
Keep knitting!
“Leaving it better than you found it”–wow, that speaks to so much, including people as you note. Even to a small act like being friendly and respectful of cashiers at the grocery store (I always think of how I wouldn’t want to do their job so I try to make it easier on them by bagging my own groceries when I can).
Yes! …even something as ‘unemotional’ as using manners & being polite.
Beautiful post, Laura. I enjoyed the video. Thank you for introducing me to J. Drew Lanham and his beautiful work. I love the aspect of joy as justice. Also love the logo!
I thought you might enjoy the video – I’m thinking ‘snowy owls’ even tho this isn’t that, but filmed in the swamp! 😉 I’m happy to have introduced you to J. Drew Lanham’s work. His is multi dimensional, as is his life and approach to life. Now, I know you’re more an action-superhero type gal, but yeah, the Rebel Birds caught my eye, too!