A Judge’s Prayer

a poem by Annabelle Tarapor

He stood there, lost and trembling,
his eyes all red for want of sleep.
Murder on his hands, cold feet;
and I was the judge, upon that seat.

The man from Capri!
He stared at me, for mercy,
hoping that in his eyes I see
his regret, his fear, his misery.

That man from Capri!
His face was filled with a thousand emotions,
each one talked to me.

The man from Capri!
That prisoner and me
we were alike in many ways,
in time, you’ll see…

Yes, that man from Capri!
Why was it he not me,
to suffer pain and humility?
Should I set him free?

You, prisoner from Capri!
Why should you not be free?
Who am I to stop your dreams?
What makes you lesser than me?

Oh! man from Capri!
Can we switch identity?
Can you play judge, instead of me?
Can you see how hard it is, not to set you free?

But, prisoner from Capri!
You have done it again!
You have looted and slain,
I pardoned you once, but, never again!!

Oh man from Capri!
Not again, no more sympathy,
I have to look away
be tough, and say…

Oh, prisoner from Capri!
Today you will have to pay,
for all your sins and wickedness,
I too, pay a price, to bestow ‘justice’!!!

Oh people of Capri!
I did not set him free,
I will make him pay,
for what he has done;
killed a mother and her son!

Oh Justice, Sweet Justice,
help me always to see,
the right and wrong in everyone…
including that of me!!