! ! The Quality Of Mercy (Conditions Apply) Poem by Michael Shepherd

! ! The Quality Of Mercy (Conditions Apply)

Rating: 2.6


The quality of mercy,
Portia declared,

the quality of mercy is
suspended during the present conflict

the quality of mercy is
not the business of a Minister of Justice

the quality of mercy is
not a matter of individual conscience

the quality of mercy is
too subtle for public discussion
or law

the quality of mercy is
only for Shakespeare and stuff

the quality of mercy is
less stimulating than revenge

the quality of mercy is
no business of yours

the quality of mercy is
no concern of religious authorities
who should stay silent

the quality of mercy is
an outdated concept

the quality of mercy is
nothing to do with forgiveness
or circumstantial evidence
or the remission of sins

the quality of mercy is
no longer a matter of pride

the quality of mercy is
no longer a mark of humanity

the quality of mercy
would be OK if Obama said so

the quality of mercy
is one hell of a hot potato
cooked in oil

the quality of mercy
droppeth as the gentle
dew from heaven
upon a broken fuselage

and it is too much
or too little
for our understanding.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Fay Slimm 29 August 2009

Mercy - - yes Michael, it is much too deep a quality for this modern age to contemplate - - and the list of deterrents you present is awesome - let us hope that quality will impregnate the whole of humanity in some future time and mercy will be the 'in-thing' of the day..... we can but dream......10 from Fay.

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Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd

Marton, Lancashire
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