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Vincent Spaulding Member
since 2000-01-16
Posts 59 |
Guilty, down to the definition. And every creature blessed with brains knew his culpability. But sophists spoke, technicalities kicked in, the planets shifted into odd ordering, and he was acquitted. Many decried the injustice: "Off scot-free!" But his reputation in tatters knew better. So did God. |
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| © Copyright 2000 Vincent Spaulding - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Wordshaman Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 110Illinois, USA |
This blares O.J. Simpson to me, in my mind. Your poem powerfully wrought that image into my head, also, so my congratulations on that as well. Wordshaman |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
Vincent, Great piece! I got the same image as Words ... O.J. Saw the courtroom again. I think he is being punished to a degree, but, for murder, it is not nearly enough. Nice work, warmhrt |
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Kirk T Walker Member
since 2000-01-13
Posts 357Liberty, MO |
Nice poem. I didn't see the direct relation to the O.J. trial (although I could see how a connection could be made to that case or several other situations, such as the Clinton-Lewenski scandal.) I would replace "culpability", 5 syllables is a mouthful. Technicalities also has 5 syllables, but I didn't stumble over it as much (maybe because it is a more familiar word). |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
This immediately said OJ to me too, but as Kirk pointed out, it could just as easily apply to Clinton or any other such situation. Nice job, whichever image you intended. BTW, welcome to Passions and the CA < !signature--> Pete What terms shall I find sufficiently simple in their sublimity -- sufficiently sublime in their simplicity -- for the mere enunciation of my theme? Edgar Allan Poe [This message has been edited by Not A Poet (edited 01-20-2000).] |
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jenni Member
since 1999-09-11
Posts 478Washington D.C. |
vincent-- yeah, technicalities like the constitution, the bill of rights, that silly, silly rule of making the prosecution actually PROVE guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, those crazy evidentiary laws and statutes regarding relevance or hearsay, etc. (who cares if they reflect the experience of literally hundreds of years of anglo-american jurisprudence?)... we would all be much better off without such nonsense.  anyway, i do agree with you, of course "not guilty" doesn't necessarily mean innocent, and it's unfortunate that sometimes that's all we get. still, i'd rather have OJ, or anyone, walk 'scot-free', than have a legal system not grounded in the american constitutional and english common law tradition... even with all those pesky 'technicalities'. just my opinion. jenni [This message has been edited by jenni (edited 01-20-2000).] |
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Trevor Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 700Canada |
Welcome to CA or more correctly welcome to posting your first poem at CA, Well I gotta say I agree with Jenni on her sarcastic response to the theme of the poem and would like to add that if this is truly about OJ's case or a similar one perhaps the blame should not be laid on the judicial system (if you're talking about OJ or an OJ type of person) but on the investigating techniques/procedures used by the prosecutor and/or the police department. Either there wasn't enough evidence to prove he did it, there was enough evidence to prove he didn't, crucial evidence became unadmissable or that evidence allowed had been tampered with or illegally obtained. Now on to the poem, "Guilty, down to the definition. And every creature blessed with brains knew his culpability." Pretty good first stanza. The period after "definition" seemed unnecessary. Liked "culpability". "But sophists spoke, technicalities kicked in, the planets shifted into odd ordering, and he was acquitted." Thought "planets shifted into odd odering" didn't fit with the poem though I know what you were trying to convey (that the world made no sense). "Many decried the injustice: "Off scot-free!" But his reputation in tatters knew better. So did God." Should "decried" be "decreed", just wondering? Liked the ending, thought you wrapped the poem up well with a solid conclusion. Anyways, Thanks for the read and take care, Trevor |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
Vincent: I'm afraid I'm a law-lubber too, Vince. I was actually okay with the theme until I got to the "technicality" part. Those same "technicalities" ensure a fair trial, prevent injustice and prosecutorial misconduct, and, ultimately, quash tyranny before it begins. Without these checks in place people get railroaded like the Lindburgh baby trial about 50 years ago. I, like many others, thought of the O.J. Simpson trial but others came to mind as well. I like "culpability", though. I also want a license plate that reads "Mens Rea" so I wouldn't keep it in there just because I like it.  Welcome to Passions, by the way.< !signature--> Jim "If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther [This message has been edited by jbouder (edited 01-20-2000).] |
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Ted Reynolds Member
since 1999-12-15
Posts 331 |
I fully agree with the last three posts about the need for those legal technicalities. The problem here is that readers may feel so strongly about *that* that (to an extent) they stop really reading the poem as a whole. You had it bracketed with linguistic and astrological components of the acquittal, and ended with a strong statement that the culprit was not acquitted by God. To me, that made the slap at the legal system (and if we're talking O.J., lord knows it deserved it) trivial in the context of your sincere indignation. For others, I guess it didn't. |
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Vincent Spaulding Member
since 2000-01-16
Posts 59 |
Thank you all for your responses. I purposely included too few details in my poem--so as to make its application more universal. Ted was correct in seeing the astrological reference in my poem. I used to practice astrology, and some things seem so absurd that the only explanation one can give is that "the planets shifted into odd ordering." Of course, I do belief in the bill of rights, but that doesn't mean that I agree with such sophistry as the Miranda decision. Miranda himself is a good example of the message of my poem. No matter how much the justices tried to get him off, they still couldn't prevent him from getting himself killed. But the deeper message of my poem has a broader application than the United States' criminal justice system. The message is simple--justice will always prevail. |
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