Justice Slept

Justice slept like the old dog on the rickety front porch The porch where the old folk’ rocked and sang, fanning flies and wiping sweat from their brows Waiting and watching, waiting and watching Justice slept like the baby snug in the bassinette nestled in the corner of the living room the heat of summer breathing through open windows, hot as the breath of that old dog who laid on the porch beneath the window where the curtains fluttered with the infant just inside, dreaming hopefully of a better life to come Justice slept while humanity waited and contemplated its awakening like the old folk’ on the front porch dreaming of a better day ahead so many wanting more, longing for equity, yearning for peace but as yet unable to arouse the slumbering behemoth, so heavy with sleep as to impersonate death If justice was to awaken, it would not be at once with the clang of a bell or the sound of an alarm It would have to be coaxed, seduced from its slumber rousing reluctantly, in no hurry to greet the light Longing for justice’s caress, the seducer and seductress discarded the prude clothing of shame and fear and donned instead the titillating threads of pride and protest Aching to be held in the arms of justice, walking the streets like mistresses of the night crying out to be held, to be loved sometimes with tears, other times in rage Until finally justice rustled in its bunk beginning to open its eyes, tiny slits at first cringing at the bright light of day from which it had shrunk for so long Sunlight’s warmth, too inviting to refuse after all Once enlightened to the beauties of the universe, justice could not once again retreat to its slumber And now weary from the chase, the seducer lay in justice’s arms kissed and caressed, lovers at last resting after their long pursuit but always still fighting the slumber that was ever lurking