Just A Story..... Poem by RIC BASTASA

they are saying that if only
man knows how to punish himself
from all his mistakes
then the courts will have no use
there will be no need of prosecutors
and defenders
the police officers would serve no
purpose at all

what Sophocles said through the mouth
of Oedipus had never become true
no one has ever plucked out his eyes
from its sockets
in order to see wrongthat one has
committed though without malice
and punish himself with himself

who in his right mind would do this:
handcuff his hands, put himself in jail,
confess his guilt and be condemned to death?

no one in his right mind could do this
except of course if one had become insane
or psychologically imbalanced.

so here we are, looking so decent and normal,
rich and influential, flaunting power and pride
partying throughout those nights.
let there be judges and prosecutors and police officers.

let those you are not skilled in the law
or who have no connections be easilycaught.

the party still happens, the flashy cars park,
the mansion lighted, the women dance with their men,
the children eat what they want,
the grand mothers look without disgust.

this is where we live, traps with big eyes,
only the small ones are caught, the big fish are swimming
in the oceans of luxuries,

the boats are too small,
the fishermen too dumb.

are you angry? oh well, do not take this seriously,
this is just another silly story.