Compassion Is Always A Justification For Relaxing The Rules Poem by RIC BASTASA

compassion
is always a justification for
relaxing the rules
making them sit like visitors
in prison cells
trying to reach about those
who appear to be guilty
when if fact
they are not.

compassion is your
mother
as your father is always
the rule
stern as he is
she softens what harshness is
there

between them is the love
of the child
the runaway kid
the stubborn child
who has not understood yet

that the rod and
everything else
is used for the good of all
and always in the name of
love