Of crime and punishment we oft believe
That lady justice is both blind and pure,
But canons, born of man, can yet deceive
And shades of bias still can here obscure.
A punishment accorded to a crime
And yet the foulness of the very deed,
Is subject not to reason or to rhyme,
And often so to bigotry concedes.
Power to govern, tainted by the heart
Is but ubiquitous in meted laws;
In judging others, we our bent impart,
And in so doing, show our self same flaws.
So faulted be our judge of fellow man;
What stone should ever leave the weigher’s hand?

©Loubert S Suddaby. All Rights Reserved.