Right-And-Wrong Truth Poem by Debrah Amos

Once upon a time
I was young and I was wrong.
Was I young because I was wrong?
Or was I wrong because I was young?
I think I was young because I was wrong
And I was wrong because I was young;
For I could not be young if I were not wrong
And I could not be wrong if I were not young.
The young are wrong and ‘the wrong’ are young.
So define me without ‘young’ and I am not young.
Define me without ‘wrong’ and I am not young.
So young and wrong are one; and one is young and wrong?

And once
I was old and I was right.
Was I old because I was right?
Or was I right because I was old?
I think I was old because I was right
And I was right because I was old;
For I could not be old if I were not right
And I could not be right if I were not old.
The old are right and ‘the right’ are old.
So define me without ‘old’ and I am not right.
Define me without ‘right’ and I am not old.
So old and right are one; and one is old and right?

Now
Who would be my just judge?
Are ‘the young’ always wrong?
Are ‘the wrong’ always young?
Are ‘the old’ always right?
Are ‘the right’ always old?
The young can be right
And the right can be young.
And the old can be wrong
And the wrong can be old.
And I was old enough to know this old
Right-and-wrong truth.