The Process Or Kafka's Dream Part 1 (Revised)

Across the cracked concrete slabs,
past a fallen dogwood
left lying like so much litter
at the red brick base of the court house;
the jurors strode.

Through the doors too heavy
for a mere woman to open unassisted
and their constant societal reminder of place
of strength and weakness;
doors serving as the first purposeful
architectural devise of disrespect,
up to the toy soldiers of the city
at their arched metal catcher gate;
the jurors of democracy strode.

Patted down, prodded,
stripped of our individuality,
so like the cattle, they assume we are;
like the criminals, who we are told are..
“Presumed innocent until proven guilty.”;
we too are subjected to the indignities of the law.
The jurors moved.

Herded up rickety elevators into the bowels
of the ivory towers of jurist prudence,
funneled in alphabetical order to weary clerks;
who sticker, stamp and quantify us,
innumerable names to numerous lists;
the jurors wait.

The sheer nature of the building,
the room, its officials, cowed the crowd
who sat cud chewing and bottom scratching,
awaiting the arrival of the Judge?
I sat, longing for the days of Jefferson.
the rebirth of the Renaissance man;
wrestling with the morality of the ignorant justice? 
Wondering what poor, schmuck,
was to be brought before these modern day
Madame Defarges who sat knitting.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Brown Avatar
June 3, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Congratulations on your poetry x2 making it through the first round Deb. I wish you the best in the finals. Love, Carol
Brown Avatar
May 12, 2010 at 3:10 AM
Congratulations on your featured write this week Deb. Love, Carol
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
May 11, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Congrats on the feature. I liked this when I first read it. Now if I was one of those knitters, I'd be knitting a hanging rope. justice is ignorant in ths country. Only the victim loses. We need to go back to the Old West, try them in the morning and carry out the sentence before sundown. Vince
Fisher Avatar
May 10, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Many congrats on your wonderful featured piece. Rgds Janette
Sweetheart Avatar
May 9, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Congrats Debbie on your featured poem this week on the Soup.. excellent choice to feature and share with us all...luv.. Linda-Marie
Guzzi Avatar
May 9, 2010 at 2:41 PM
Please read the rest of the poem for me ...my friends? Light & Love
Fraser Avatar
May 9, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Congratulations on your fine poem being featured on the Soups Homepage Deborah >> James
Dvorkis Avatar
November 10, 2009 at 6:50 AM
At first I thought Harper Lee and to kill a mockingbird but on a second read it feels more like you personally were subjected to this, probably pretty recently. It was you who needed the guy behind you to help with the heavy door. I can imagine how powerless it must have made you feel. Or I could be dead wrong, either way I guess:) Let's see what gems I can pull out of part 2.
Richards Avatar
November 8, 2009 at 3:43 PM
This sounds terribly familiar... ..on the the next part....
George   Avatar
November 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
ON TO PART TWO.....LAINIE
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace