A Voice Unheard - Part II: Poetry

The Voice of Law

I am a friend in times of your need,

Known to be the extinguisher of every kind of greed,

For I am all around you, everyone can see,

My presence can be felt to all equally,

Good or bad, my reactions have substantial equivalency,

You know me to be the defender of the needy,

As well as the punisher of the undoubtedly guilty,

You have seen the ways my effect is felt,

When the gavel strikes, the decision is dealt,

My resounding reply to all your actions and words,

Comes to be known as justice being served.

The universality of the access to my relief!

My scope to only those with monetary ability!

The sense of accountability

Think you that you have no duty?

So, who am I? I shall tell you true,

I am law, the governing rule,

There are numerous ways in which I can be of use,

When all your dreams and hopes are abused,

Alas! The nobility of my words! The sanctity of my text,

Are betrayed by humanity to a large extent,

When I am used in a Chamber of Justice,

My words are twisted, manipulated and distorted,

To cause harm and delay,

Leaving the needy with nothing to say.

Oh! My agents in court, my brothers on the bench,

Watching you at work makes my heart wrench,

Distorting and debasing the meaning of things,

Interpreting what you believe to be my will,

You reduce my power, causing nothing but ill,

Money given or favours extended,

Do not give you the right to leave wounds without being mended,

You cannot decide my meaning of your own accord,

If you are to truly accept the protection I can afford,

T'is not my will to see the pain you cause,

You must stop this clear injustice once and for all.

The universal of the access to my relief?

Only to those with monetary ability!

Where is the accountability?

Oh! There, you have no duty!!

There used to be so much virtue,

The legal journey, a quest for truth,

Somewhere along the way, all integrity disappeared,

And human ideals disregarded with no fear,

No fear of some higher purpose being left unfulfilled,

I am no longer able to represent the people's will,

I have become the servant, and you the master,

T'is no wonder things remain in a state of disaster,

Predominance of my spirit being reduced to a myth,

Money and power rule over your kin and kith.

Where is the universality of the access to my relief?

Dare you limit my scope to only those with monetary ability?

Where is your sense of accountability?

Think you that you have no duty?

You have shamed me,

As well as all of society,

Some guardians of the truth,

Using me to pillage and loot,

The people have grown weary; they no longer trust me,

Your abuse has left me powerless, powerless as can be,

People no longer look to me for assistance,

My worth has been reduced to being a pittance,

My dream is that your decadence is replaced,

With many, many a new face,

You need to remember your purpose, why you are here,

Do your duty, justice should be revered,

Access to my relief.

For only those with monetary ability?

Sense of accountability,

And what of the duty?

Again I say to you now,

Remember your duty, do it proud,

Do not be swayed by the surrounding debauchery,

The corruption of the day, and all the bribery,

Hear you my plea this day,

Pay careful heed to everything I say,

Or else there shall be an uprising of epic proportions, will be what you see

Heed this as a warning and not some glib statement,

Remember I am above all else whenever you feel weak,

When you are about to succumb to sinners, think you of me,

Forget not the power of my law,

Do not contribute to justice's fall.