Poetry Friday--"The Rules of Evidence"

We've all heard that there are only seven basic plots in all of literature. But, even if there are more, they've all been written, haven't they? And yet, we keep on writing (and reading) novels.

There are only 26 letters to the alphabet--every combination of letters must surely be a word by now? And yet, with each new edition, The Oxford English Dictionary contains thousands of new words.

Is there anything new under the sun? Is there anything that hasn't be thought, said, or presented as evidence?

The Rules of Evidence
by Lee Robinson

What you want to say most
is inadmissible.
Say it anyway.
Say it again.
What they tell you is irrelevant
can't be denied and will
eventually be heard.
Every question
is a leading question.
Ask it anyway, then expect
what you won't get.
There is no such thing
as the original
so you'll have to make do
with a reasonable facsimile.

The history of the world
is hearsay. Hear it.
The whole truth
is unspeakable
and nothing but the truth
is a lie.
I swear this.
My oath is a kiss.
I swear
by everything
incredible.

Hearsay by Lee Robinson, Fordham U. Press, 2004.

Head over to Karen Edmisten's blog for this week's Poetry Friday Round-Up.

--Diane