Justice—All too Human

When we started living with others of our kind

The first law was born to help us bind

Cooperation was then the name of the game

But competition was the other side of the frame

It was natural for disputes to arise

‘Might’ was then the only device

Resolution was quick and on the spot

Fist was the way for justice to be sought

This justice gave us a woeful plight

But something in us it did ignite

Maybe might is not always right

And must we decide every dispute by a fight?

To decide who is right or wrong

Is there a need to show whose punch is strong?

Better use the spin of dice

And a toss of coin would be equally precise

Justice then became a game of ‘chance’

But fairness still could not advance

Again we wanted to revise

And searched for a man who was wise

Faith we must repose

And all argument we must close

When trust is in our heart

Only then the wise man would do his part

But faith in man does not abound

And ‘wisdom’ is so rare to be found

When the argument is wild and violent

Even the wise are forced to remain silent

In the present system ‘reason’ is all pervasive

But justice still remains elusive

Because reason we can always twist and turn

If winning is our only concern

A lawyer is ready with reason as his sword

Provided his fee we may afford

When might and chance also play their part

Modern justice becomes just a thing of craft

Overflowing now is our basket of litigation

And from vice there is no mitigation

Would we see light ever?

Or human justice is condemned forever?

Justice can have a human face

Only if two ideas we embrace

Choose those few who are just

And sue only when we must