On Laws

What shall I say of these save that they

too stand in the sunlight, but with their

backs to the sun?

They see only their shadows, and their

shadows are their laws.

And what is the sun to them but a caster

of shadows?

And what is it to acknowledge the laws

but to stoop down and trace their shadows

upon the earth?

But you who walk facing the sun, what

images drawn on the earth can hold you?

You who travel with the wind, what

weather-vane shall direct your course?

What man’s law shall bind you if you

break your yoke but upon no man's prison

door?

What laws shall you fear if you dance

but stumble against no man’s iron chains?

And who is he that shall bring you to

judgment if you tear off your garment yet

leave it in no man’s path?

People of Orphalese, you can muffle the

drum, and you can loosen the strings of the

lyre, but who shall command the skylark

not to sing?