Kangaroo Court
One moment, I was living out my same old tired routine,
When suddenly ... an unknown force took hold, to intervene!
One second, I was there at work, the next thing that I knew,
I traveled through some twilight zone ... I’m serious ... it’s true!
My sight grew dim, a blackness came, I floated through the air,
An eerie fog enveloped me - I kid you not, I swear!
I felt the air rush past my face, I swirled and twirled about,
Careening down a tunnel, till I thought I might black out!
I reached to grab most anything, but nothing stopped my fall ...
I somersaulted back and forth for ages, in this sprawl;
“Oh, this is it! I must be dead!” I screamed to no one there,
Then all at once, I landed roughly ... on a hardwood chair?!
I tried to catch my breath and felt a mounting sense of doom,
The atmosphere was hazy in this dark and gloomy room;
The fog began to clear a bit, and then it dawned on me ...
I’d landed in COURTROOM! “Oh, this simply could not be!”
Alone at the defendant’s table, rooted in my place,
I pondered my predicament, unsure about the case;
I heard a latch ... I jumped and turned ... a doorknob give a twist,
A ten foot bailiff entered through the cold and clammy mist.
He took his place toward the front and in a booming voice,
He bellowed out “All rise!” and I stood up without a choice.
I heard some mumbling from the back, and turned about to see,
Ten rows of angry faces staring blindly back at me.
In front of them, and to my right, the prosecutor stood,
In flowing garb and frightening stance ... “Oh boy, this wasn’t good!”
The plaintiff was beside him, though my line of sight was lost,
The menacing attorney blocked my view from whom I’d crossed.
I squinted, tried to catch a glimpse, but as I tried to stare,
The bailiff boomed, “Here come da judge!” and silence filled the air.
The woman wore a jet black robe and donned a wig of white,
But when I focused on her face, I really got a fright.
No question, “she” was “me”, or rather, maybe, “I” was “her”?
And yet upon her face, I saw no recognition stir;
The judge looked at me blankly, I could see no sympathy,
But how could that be possible, if “she” was really “me”?
“Be seated!” yelled the bailiff, as I felt my knees go weak,
I could not say a single word – I could not even speak!
The judge turned to the bailiff, “Bring the jury in.” she said,
And in walked twelve familiar faces ... each with “my” own head!
I laughed at this outlandish scene, but to my own surprise ...
There was no recognition from their cold, accusing eyes;
They stared at me across the room – I thought I might go mad,
“Just what’s this all about?!?!” I yelled, (Oh, this was looking bad!)
The jury gasped ... “Such insolence!” the judge spat back at me,
Then grabbed her gavel, slammed it down, and glared triumphantly;
“You stand accused before this court. Let’s get this under way!”
The prosecutor rose and grinned, he had a LOT to say.
I only heard a portion of his argument it seemed,
For when he stood, I saw the plaintiff’s face and nearly screamed!
Beside him, sat ANOTHER “me” ... “she” wasn’t looking good,
A little haggard, worse for wear, not looking like “I” should.
The prosecutor’s voice droned on, accusing me of crimes,
Laid out my life in black and white, right back to happy times;
The essence of his case, it seemed, was “murder in the first”,
“She killed “her” dreams and buried them!” the prosecutor cursed.
He brought in several witnesses to fortify their case,
And every one that testified was wearing “my” own face!
“They” spoke the dreams of little girls, “they” reminisced and cried,
“They” spoke of broken promises, of too much work and pride.
“I” watched “me” point to “me” and heard “me” speak of “my” neglect,
“She" killed our hopes and dreams!” They cried, till I yelled “I object!!!”
“Well, so do I!!!” the judge admonished, looking rather tense,
“I’d like to hear your side of this. Let’s hear a good defense?”
“Your Honor”, I began, “You know I have so little time.”
“I didn’t kill my dreams, they’re tucked away ... that’s not a crime.”
“I promise that I’ll get to them - some day, I’m sure they’ll wait.”
“I can’t control the pressures I’ve been dealt, it’s merely fate.”
“I have to pay the bills, I have responsibilities.”
“To think that I have time for “me”, would only be a tease!”
“I have a lot of people who rely on what I do,”
“All else will have to wait, perhaps another year or two.”
The judge looked at me sternly, shook her head, “This court’s adjourned!”
She sent the jury off ... but in 2 minutes, they returned;
The judge asked, “Have you reached a verdict?” ... “Yes, we have.” They said,
I rose and looked the foreman in the eye, with utter dread.
“We find this person, GUILTY! It is Murder – First Degree!”
“We recommend you throw the book at her ... no leniency!”
The judge looked back at me and said, “I pity you, my dear.”
“For lying to “yourself” that you’ll make time for “us” next year.”
“You have no choice, I sentence you to dig up all those dreams,”
“By sheer neglect, they’ve withered six feet under, so it seems.”
“Today, you start believing in “yourself” and make the time.”
“All ELSE can wait ... it’s time to pay your penance for this crime.”
I tried to speak on my behalf, but suddenly, I knew ...
That “they” were right, and “I” was wrong – then off away, I flew;
I somersaulted back and forth, and twirled within the air,
Till, BOOM! I landed right back in my rigid, office chair!
I looked about the place, the phones were ringing off their hooks,
I saw the people running all about, with frantic looks;
I felt a knot begin to build within the pit of me,
That anxious, daily ache I got, that wouldn’t let me be.
I thought about my sentence, all the “me’s” that I had heard,
Then looked at all in front of me ... it really was absurd!
“It ALL could wait, it really could!” I heard “me” somehow say ...
And with that revelation - felt a calmness come my way.
“I’m taking a vacation!” I announced with sudden pride,
Then walked right out the door ... to dig up dreams I’d long denied!