Do the crime and pay the time,
A truth that stands through every clime,
Whether the most influential man,
Or poorest pauper in the land.

Justice holds a steady course,
Unyielding in its moral force,
For wealth and power cannot sway,
The laws that guide both night and day.

In gilded halls or humble streets,
This rhyme resounds, its truth repeats,
For actions done must face the light,
In darkest hours or broad daylight.

No gold can buy a conscience clear,
Nor poverty a heart sincere,
The scales of justice, firm and blind,
Weigh every soul, each heart and mind.

Through ages past and those to come,
This principle remains a sum,
Of human acts and consequence,
A universal recompense.

Do the crime and pay the time,
A timeless rule, a steadfast rhyme,
In justice, we are all the same,
Bound by honor, truth, and name.

June 11, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop