Rubaiyat Of The Law Current Version 1074 Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Defence and Prosecution illustrate
the different roles perceptions demonstrate
the ways invent and innovation play
their parts within both statement and the State.

The first from bottom up must often wait
until the second has unveiled its weight,
the slingshot David aims can't fly astray,
no second chance Goliath offers Fate.

Prosecution is procedure past,
point proves, from point to point advances fast,
weighs more than plays, stays wary where surprise
could compromise its ruts, designed to last.

Prosecution's arsenal is vast,
from precedent draws to bolster past
convictions with a vengeance we surmise
draws less from justice, blind, which stands aghast.

Defence prefers truth's song to ruthless strong,
dares more, wears less, won't always string along,
lifts patterns more than sifts, dreams different guise,
wise, judges not disguise as always wrong.

Thus equity's priorities belong
more to defence in seeking to prolong
core freedoms which like Phoenix seek to rise
from fragile embers few remember long.

Prosecution hones the Law's harsh bite
pursues relentless all that ever might
present a precedent for laxity,
upset conviction, or conviction's might.

Repression looks on lenience as night
of anarchy distorting guiding light
of principles, of moral right to be
enforced ignoring individual plight.

Defence runs fate's dark gauntlet, finds right way
to play for time and execution's stay,
while Prosecution, left, preys on just fight
Defence p[r]ays, fights to live another day.

Laws change from land to land, and those today
upheld are often abrogated, fray:
rank exploitation must be tempered, white
and black are often seen through glasses grey.

The former draws on common law to write
round safeguards that the latter longs to right,
would equity extend to free and see
might to its place, replaced with just insight.

Defence sees ethics compromised as blight,
ends differentiates from mean means tight
fisted or hard-hearted, charity
and tolerance considered beacon bright.

This Prosecution with suspicion takes
as open invitation to mistakes
which leave society too open to
attacks or exploitation, cheats and fakes.

Defence for time pleads, mercy, second-takes,
exceptions to rules too restrictive makes
a point of conscience as a prime virtue
an argument that Prosecution brakes.

For centuries the Law's delays deplored
have been by those, exploited, overawed,
legitimacy sold to highest bid
with basic rights both trampled and ignored.

Life free from arbitrary persecution,
false witness, any biased prosecution
must be ensured enshrining Rights of Man
against coercion, short shrift execution.

Where is the middle ground both free and fair
safeguarding interests, lock and key word care
to guarantee posterity respects
habeus corpus, justice everywhere?

(12 December 2008)
Pessimistic Pearls of Wisdom


To stay oneself, learn way, earn just renown
when 'justice' is a quality much missed,
must cause most optimists to tearful drown
their sorrows where will dares not, won't persist.
The key to lasting happiness is blown
upon the shipwreck tides time often sends
when pomp and circumstance together thrown
confuse, knot, justify, tie means to ends.

Combine stockmarket slump with hurricane,
tornado twisters cutting power lines,
as darkness falls and threatens to remain
from sea to global warming sea. What signs
beyond one weekend's false respite, true pain,
may comfort bring as optimism pines,
concensus shivers, social greed insane
questions the quest for profit, panic dines.

Unchallenged bliss appears lobotomy
or selfish failure to shed sham disguise,
self-knowledge mirrors emptiness, few free
remain as fear gains foothold, shutters eyes,
as ills spill anguish and uncertainty
which threaten all as universal ties
unwind, wear mourning coat, insanity
rides rampant over any good surprise.

(12 October 2008)