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RightAndLevel

 Who can pass judgment? Yet each day one must
 A thousand verdicts render, each unjust
   If time for thoughtful jurisprudence could
   Be found to weigh the best against the good
 Enough. Is that unfair? Where lies the truth?
 Objective standard, geometric proof,
   Requires perfect knowledge, error-free,
   Plus power of reason past humanity
 In order to apply such starry rules
 To earthy situations. We are fools,
   Admittedly, to even try
   To implement the absolute. So why
 Must all then struggle in the vain attempt?
 "We hold these truths to be self-evident"
   Is partial answer, as are other words:
   Equality, peace, fairness, freedom, love,
 "My country" and "Pursuit of happiness".
 But words are not enough. If we do less
   Than strive with every atom to achieve
   That measure full of justice we believe
 And know ourselves are capable of, then
 The fight is ended; we have lost again.

TopicPoetry


(correlates: IndependenceDay, PracticeMakesProgress, MudAndCrystals, ...)