All’s Fair In Unfairness

(Written for Atakti's "My Unfair Lady" competition)


What is “fair”?
Is it everything and nothing,
In principle,
Or perhaps only a term,
A beauty descriptor,
Or a county carnival?

Describe for me how fair it is,
When babies are returned to God at birth,
Damaged in transit.
Is it fair that those who are commissioned to bring laughter,
Leave this world by their own hand
In a moment of despair?

Is it fair when some get away with everything
No matter how hard the rest of us work to remain in good standing?
Is it fair when Israel is termed the aggressor
When their Biblical Deed extends into Egypt,
And to the Euphrates and Tigris?
Ah, Gaza, if you only knew….

And what about when deaths come in threes,
And the third has yet to happen—
Is it fair to imagine who it will be,
And hope it’s not ourselves?
Is it fair when our children grow up
And leave us alone, to lead their own lives?

Would existence be any fairer
If the sands of Time could be caught
Instead of slipping between our fingers,
Faster than we care to let it go?

Where is the justice in all things?
We all pay its price,
Some more than others,
Some differently than others,
And some have the faith to believe
That it’s all a wash, in the end,
And to each will be given according to their works,
(“Well done, good and faithful servant…”)
While others have not the means to comprehend such things.

Is it fair to say that loss in any form
Can be viewed as hope in the making,
Or is loss the finality of all?
Is it fair that I want to keep living,
Despite all the unfairness around me?

Will the rest of my own payment be fair,
For what I want for just me,
And is it even fair for me to ask for such things?
I don’t have too much left to give, you know,
So I hope it will be enough,
But then again, The Widow gave all she had,
And Jesus blessed her for it.