Justice

everyone waits, listening
for the verdict’s outcome,
the question in the courtroom,
“Will justice be handed out today?”

court cases range from civil issues
to homicides - the decisions
in each changes another’s future
whether fines or jail time

from the code of Hammurabi
to twenty first century directives
rules of behavior are mapped out,
punishments clearly outlined

the consequences are far reaching
with innocent victims vindicated,
but children of the convicted, get undeserved
punishment when justice is meted out