BULLETINS FROM ALOHA

THE CUT OF THE KNIFE

A TIMID FOOT TOUCHES THE FIRST LOW STEP OF THE COURTHOUSE.

MYSTERIOUS EVENTS AWAIT, AS MYSTERIOUS AS A DOCTOR’S OPERATING ROOM. AND NOT BENIGN.  

INSIDE THE CLERK PREPARES THE DAY, THE JUDGE UNARRIVED.

JUSTICE AWAITS ON AN UNKIND CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.  FOR THEM.  

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER IS SECURITY MORE ASSIDUOUS THAN AN AIR TRAVELLER.  THAT SETS THE TONE.  INTIMIDATION.

IMPERSONAL CALENDAR-SLIPS DIRECT THE UNDIRECTED; TO WHAT, THEY DON’T KNOW.  THE HEAVY DOOR IS LOCKED.  THE WINDOWED DOOR REFLECTS FIERCE ARCHITECTURE OF ANOTHER ERA.  NOT BENIGN

LOCK-OPENING SOUNDS ADMIT ONE TO WHAT?  AN ELEVATED BENCH THAT INSURES THAT INTIMIDATION.  THERE ARE TWO COUNSEL OPERATING TABLES OF BARE COUNTENANCE, BUT WARN OF DARK THINGS TO COME.  

THEN THE FLOOD OF PEOPLE BEFORE AND AFTER THE BAR:  THE INVISIBLE LINE BETWEEN THE 1% AND THE REST.  

NO ONE KNOWS YOU ARE THERE NOR CARES.  IT IS THEIR SCHEDULE THAT MATTERS NOT YOURS.  INFINITY WILL NOT RECORD WHAT HAPPENS HERE TODAY, BUT THE SOLEMN EXECUTIONER INDULGES ITSELF ANYWAY.  BECAUSE THEY CAN. 

IF THIS WERE A BUSINESS, NO ONE, NO ONE WOULD DARKEN THIS DOOR.

THE ENTRY DOOR.  THIS IS THE JUSTICE DISPENSING PLACE.  A PLACE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE.  THAT IS WHY ALL THOSE THAT COWER ARE HERE.  FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE.  ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.

SUDDENLY, YOU ARE JERKED TO ATTENTION BECAUSE YOU MUST STAND IN HOMAGE BEFORE GREATNESS.  TRUE GREATNESS.  ONE CAN TELL BECAUSE THEY ARE ROBED, THOSE ONES.  ROBED IN BLACK AND SHADES OF GRAY.  BUT, WHAT IF THEY ARE A ‘D’ STUDENT AT THE LAW?  HOW DO YOU TELL?

IN THE SOUTH, GRADES OF COTTON HAVE NAMES.  FAIR TO MIDDLING.  GRADES ARE METTED OUT HERE TOO.  SERIOUS.  MORE SERIOUS.  DEADLY SERIOUS.  FAIRNESS IS MISSING; YET SO NECESSARY.  ABSENT.

THE RESULT IS HANDED DOWN.  RUDELY.  WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING.  NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ANY OF IT.  WHY?  BECAUSE IT IS IN LATIN!  THE SYSTEM STILL USES LATIN AND ALL OF US JUST TURN AWAY.  

THE DOORS BURST OPEN AND THE UGLY BUILDING CONTAINER DISGORGES ITS CONTENTS.  THAT TIMID FOOT DANCES ONCE MORE.  GLEEFULLY OUT.  NO WISER.  NO POSSESSOR OF JUSTICE.  NOR FAIRNESS.  NOR IS TRUTH INVOLVED.  JUST OUT.  

claurenpaulson2011