Friday, October 27, 2006

Razing the Bar

Razing the Bar_________________
November 18, 2003

Our son was born today, many years ago.
We did not know what we were doing—
Starting a family, I supposed.
We were impaneling the jury:

Young men and women who believe
In the system—who are willing to serve.
I am afraid of the folded piece paper
They are passing on to God.

My son laughs when I tell him this.
He wants to know who the foreperson is.
Whoever is most anxious, I suppose,
Hoping God will vacate their decision.

1 comment:

timdonaldson said...

Judges only vacate a decision if there is no way any rationale jury could possibly have come to that decision. (And if that's so they probably shouldn't have sent it to the jury to begin with). It is extremely rare. Ha! :)