"Grandma, is it true,
That in the olden days,
I mean when you were young,
That if the police arrested you
They had to say what you'd done wrong?"
"The olden days!
Well, truth be told,
I feel I've lived for centuries.
And we did have some funny ways
Back then, even trial by jury."
"I've heard of that,
But I don't understand
How twelve men and women,
Could decide just what
Was right with no legal training."
"Oh, we've learned
A lot since then,
When charges were filed on arrest.
We know, the accused haven't earned
The knowledge that serves them best."
"Oh, Grandma, we're safer now,
Don't you think?
With no criminals running free.
Lock 'em all up, 'cos I don't see how
That could ever happen to me."
• Written for 42 Writers for Liberty. http://liberty-human-rights.org.uk/42writers/
