Poems about justice advocate for fairness, equality, and the pursuit of truth. These verses challenge societal injustices and highlight the importance of upholding moral principles.
Poets use powerful imagery to depict the consequences of injustice and the transformative power of righteousness. Through these poems, writers call upon readers to champion justice, speaking out against oppression and working towards a more equitable world for all.
‘I have a dream’ by Martin Luther King Jr. is a public speech the civil rights activist delivered on August 28th, 1963. In it, he called for an end to racism in the United States and all its related policies.
This speech is a powerful call for justice and equality, transcending racial divisions. Rooted in the ideals of civil rights, the speech demands an end to systemic discrimination and envisions a future where individuals are judged by character, not color. Its moral clarity epitomizes justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
‘Punishment’ is featured in “North” – a poetry collection published in 1975. “North” seeks for images and symbols to convey violence and political conflicts.
Heaney questions what justice means in different contexts - for the executed woman, for her community, and for modern society. The poem makes us think about whether punishment is truly just, and how justice can sometimes be used to justify cruelty. It's a mature exploration of justice that doesn't offer easy answers, but instead prompts us to consider the complexities of right and wrong in different times and cultures.
‘Cahoots’ by Carl Sandburg delves into the dark underbelly of a corrupt city, exposing the collusion and exploitation that thrive within its power structures.
The topic of justice is highly addressed through the portrayal of a corrupt and unjust society. The poem highlights the interconnectedness of various criminal elements, exposing the lack of fairness and accountability. By presenting a world where dishonesty and exploitation prevail, the poem implicitly questions the existing notions of justice.
‘Let America Be America Again’ by Langston Hughes is concerned with the modern United States. Hughes discusses the nature of dreams and who gets to have them come true.
This poem embodies justice by confronting the stark inequalities of the American Dream. With voices from the oppressed, it calls for equity, freedom, and truth in a land of unfulfilled promises. Hughes demands systemic change, spotlighting historical and social injustices to advocate for a truly inclusive and just America.
‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ by James Weldon Johnson is commonly referred to as the African American national anthem. It explores themes of freedom, suffering, and joy.
'Lift Every Voice and Sing' embodies justice by celebrating the resilience of the African American community while acknowledging historical struggles. The poem highlights the enduring pursuit of equality and liberty. It's unifying call for progress, faith, and remembrance powerfully champions justice as a collective, enduring endeavor.
‘For a’ That and a’ That’ by Robert Burns describes man’s true worth as not being defined by wealth, position, or possessions.
By highlighting the extravagance of the wealthy and the simplicity of the impoverished, the poem implicitly critiques the social injustices perpetuated by class distinctions. Each refrain of 'For a' That and a' That' underscores the injustice inherent in a society where merit and character are overshadowed by wealth and status. By juxtaposing the rich's privileges and the poor's virtues, the poem calls for a more equitable society that values individuals based on their qualities rather than their socioeconomic standing.
‘The Bard: A Pindaric Ode’ written by Thomas Gray, depicts the ruthless torment unleashed upon poets by the tyrant King Edward I.
The bard's curse, a central feature of the poem, is a powerful expression of the desire for justice and revenge against the English oppressors. The poem suggests that justice is not always easily achieved and that sacrifice and struggle are sometimes necessary to achieve it. The poem also emphasizes the importance of historical memory in the pursuit of justice, as the bard's curse draws on the history and mythology of the Welsh people to express his desire for revenge and justice.
‘As it Should Be’ is a powerful and telling satirical take on the violence that plagued Northern Ireland for decades.
The poem questions the concept of justice. Is revenge truly justice, or is it merely another form of violence? Mahon’s ironic tone suggests that vengeance does not bring justice but only perpetuates suffering.
‘Eating Fried Chicken’ employs an unexpected experience as a way to explore privilege and injustice. It examines questions of guilt and morality through the lens of food availability.
The speaker of 'Eating Fried Chicken' is deeply concerned with justice and fairness. He does not know how to deal with the fact that many people in the world do not have what he has. Sometimes, he tries to manage his feeling of being evil by refusing to eat anything, while other times, he forgets his concerns entirely and just enjoys his food.
I hate to admit this, brother, but there are times
When I’m eating fried chicken
When I think about nothing else but eating fried chicken,
‘A Poison Tree’ presents the consequences of harboring anger, which becomes a poisonous tree wreaking devastation.
The poem explores poetic justice, where the speaker's wrath leads to their foe's demise. However, the justice is ambiguous, as it arises from deceit and vengeance rather than moral righteousness. The outcome feels fateful, cautioning against unchecked emotions and secretive retribution, which is often mistaken for justice.
‘The Hermit’ by Alan Paton suggests that it is impossible to find peace by locking out the pain, hunger, and emotions of others. Justice and peace are only possible through human connection and compromise.
By abandoning his brethren, the hermit in this poem ends up making himself just as wretched and desperate as they are, which is a sort of poetic justice. The hermit, instead of using his privilege to help others, hoards it for himself, which ultimately results in his feelings of guilt, anger, shame, and stubbornness.
“The quality of mercy is not strained” is one of the greatest monologues written by William Shakespeare. Portia delivers this monologue to Shylock in Act IV, Scene I of “The Merchant of Venice.”
Shakespeare’s monologue poignantly intertwines justice with mercy, elevating the latter as divine and transformative. Portia’s appeal highlights how true justice must temper rigidity with compassion, reflecting God-like fairness. The speech critiques the unyielding pursuit of vengeance, underscoring mercy’s power to humanize, redeem, and achieve equitable outcomes beyond mere legalistic judgment.
‘On the Pulse of Morning’, famous till today for the emotive and forceful recitation of the poem by Maya Angelou, is one of the U.S. presidential inauguration poems.
The poem speaks of justice through its call for truth, fairness, and recognition of every group’s place in society. Angelou brings up past wrongs, such as war, inequality, and mistreatment, but she focuses on healing through awareness and action. She names different races, classes, and faiths, placing them on equal ground. Her message calls for justice that uplifts rather than punishes, making it a strong and central part of the poem’s voice and purpose.
‘Jerusalem’ is a famous, prophetic, melancholic, and classic poem, penned by maestro William Blake in 1804. It may seem like a patriotic poem, yet it’s misleading, adding to the irony is the fact that it’s an unofficial national anthem of England.
Blake believes the world is unfair and wants people to stand up against injustice. He does not accept the way society treats people, especially how industrialization is making life harder for many. His words encourage action and change, asking readers to work toward fairness. He dreams of an England where everyone is treated with kindness, and no one is suffering because of greed and power.
‘As Kingfishers Catch Fire’ delves into the essence of being and divine presence, blending nature’s vibrancy with spiritual grace.
Justice is important in the poem because Hopkins describes how a just person naturally does good, just like everything in nature acts according to its purpose. He explains that when someone is truly just, their actions will always be fair and right. The poem suggests that justice is not something people should force but something that should come naturally when they live according to their true selves and with honesty.
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
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