03 June 2014

Hot Seat


It is
my turn now
to face “What sticks?”
“What  questions  do  you
have?” "What suggestions?”
I  cannot  help  sitting  still  as
a judge capturing pluses in one hand
and negatives in the other to see whether
I might tip one way or the other but But BUT
I am not Lady Justice who weighs issues,
tests arguments blindly, impartially,
and then lifts her righteous sword.
Neither are my readers who
sense whether they can
grow in my world
how my world
grows along-
side theirs.



blindfolded lady with sword in right hand held vertically down to floor, and a set of balance scales in her left hand held neck high
Themis or Lady Justice, armed with sword and balance scales (Legislative Council BuildingCentral, Hong Kong), the personification of justice balancing the scales of truth and fairness.


Posted at Poets United Pantry.  I wrote this poem when it was my turn to have my manuscript of two chapters discussed in my writing group.  No doubt it needs some help.  I have to say that it is a joy to have a group of trusted peers and not ominous as my poem suggests.  I only shake before the trial.

Copyright © 2014  S.L.Chast






24 comments:

  1. for every justice, there is another who will decry injury...especially when you mix in fairness...life isnt fair...its a concept we cling to as if it were a truth...but there is no basis for it beyond our wants...we are human after all...and we fail far too often...if justice ruled, we would have all been dead a long time ago

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah, the thing about justice is there is often disagreement about exactly what is just and what isn't...

    ReplyDelete
  3. If only justice was impartial and fair........great topic, well wrought.

    ReplyDelete
  4. yes... justice is a big word and what a task to accomplish... i think we will never really manage

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hard to balance one from the other, and lift our righteous sword ~ Hard to be fair and impartial but we do know which way we are leaning to ~

    Love the shaping too Susan ~ Happy week dear ~

    ReplyDelete
  6. I CHANGED A FEW WORDS SINCE ORIGINALLY POSTING. Apologies to first readers who might think differently now--but OH how your comments fed me! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, a judge is only human. Yet, even in democratic countries where the law is clearly set out and the judges free from pressure, rulings may differ from one person to the next.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We are all biased. Nothing wrong with that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. we all weigh the balance whether we realise or not

    ReplyDelete
  10. So true..Justice is such a big thing..:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I particularly like the way you have it culminate in the idea of growing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I didn't think this poem was about Justice and much as it was about facing and accepting criticism (or not) and the feelings it evokes when it's happening.

    ReplyDelete
  13. finding true balance can be difficult in life..

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love your words, and how even the shape they create is symmetrical and balanced.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The openess to judge the world & be judged by the world is something we must learn well to manage, yet many only favor the first thought. smiles.

    ReplyDelete
  16. We are a diverse lot who differ in ideas and opinions of what is right or wrong or neither!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such truth. I love the balanced format of the poem as well.

    ReplyDelete
  18. in a world where the concept of 'judging' another is so frowned upon, i feel the ladies scales have been tampered with.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Don't we all? thanks for writing about that dreaded moment in every discussion or classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are fortunate to have that group, Susan. It is the one thing I really miss from Tofino, and is why my online friends rally saved me and my writing. I love the format of this poem, and , especially, its closing lines about our worlds growing alongside each others'.....

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm embarrassed to have to confess that I googled 'what sticks' and I am none the wiser, unless this is a marketing poem, which I very much doubt. Colour me dim.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Justice carries a morality aspect, nice poem, have a lovely Sunday

    Much love...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ah.. to have something really brought up to justice.. will it be fair?... I always wonder.. this is what trust is all about isn't it?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog!