FOR THE LAWYER POET AND OTHER THOUGHTS ON A DARK, SNOWY DAY

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 Jigsaw Memory

You’re in someone’s memory 

but they’re not in yours 

Contrarwise 

--someone is in your memory, 

but you’re not in theirs 

like a stranger’s photo 

you may live on forever

in the background 

without intention. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Reasonable Person

(for the lawyer-poets)


Once upon a time in the 18th century

The law invented the reasonable man.

He was neither a saint or a fool 

neither genius nor an imbecile

neither paranoid nor careless 

he was a man of ordinary prudence

a man of common sense.


He could be blind, disabled, 

a doctor, a lawyer, a factory worker, 

act in an emergency

act in self-defense

or in the heat of passion.

He is objective, not a statistic


In modern times, 

he evolved to be the reasonable person.


The reasonable person

would never frolic and detour

assume the risk

suffer a depraved heart

aid and abet

break and enter


The reasonable person

would cease and desist

when it was fit and proper.

And would have and hold 

knowingly and willingly 

order and direct 

any and all 

terms and conditions 

and they would always

pass strict scrutiny 


The reasonable person is all around us, 

but you’ll never find them. 


My Name is Conscience


Some of you know me

I’m right there inside 

and need no introduction.

I’m more than a rulebook. 

I’m your witness 

part memory 

part of imagination 

part emotion. 


Some say a moral, compass, 

giving imprecise direction to right and wrong.

I provide you with emotional signals:

guilt, shame, pride, and relief. 


I know about time 

I shouldn’t have done that.

This feels wrong. 

Will I regret this? 

I insist your actions mean something 

to the person who you are.


A few of you don’t know me.

Maybe you’ve only heard talk of me 

and only ask

Can I get away with this? 


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