JUSTICE by Ralph Semino Galdan

1 These are the accouterments of her office:

2 the blindfold symbolizing impartiality;

3 a golden pair of scales measuring the validity

4 of evidence given both pro and con;

5 the double-edged sword that pierces through

6 the thick fabric of lies; Thoth's feather

7 of truth which ultimately determines whether

8 The defendant's life is worth saving.

9 In J. Elizalde Navarro's oil painting titled

10 Is this Philippine Justice? The figure

11 of the Roman goddess Justitia slowly fades

12 into thin air, swallowed by pigments

13 cloudy as doubts. In my uncertain country

14 where right and wrong are cards

15 that can be shuffled like a pile of money bills,

16 even the land's Chief Magistrate

17 is not immune from culpability; found guilty

18 he has to face the music of derision

SUMMARY

        There were many symbolisms that have been used in the poem. First is the blindfold that shows that justice is objective. You will not look unto his position whether he is rich or poor. The people are in equal estate. 

Second is the golden pair of scales. The pair of scales is gold because the color gold symbolizes something valuable or positive while scales measures balance and fairness. It also measures validity which means fair or reasonable whether it’s against or in favour.        

Third is the double-edge sword that symbolizes that it’s not always reason and it's not only justice. Justice and reason should be balance.        

Fourth is the Thot’s feather of truth. Thot is an Egyptian deity that served as a meditating power especially between good and evil. This also tackles the justice between good and bad.        

Next is the painting. It was mentioned there the Roman goddess Justitia that slowly fades into thin air and that means that the justice is already gone.
         The right and wrong are like cards because it is easy to manipulate. If you have money, you can easily manipulate many situations regarding justice.
         The Lady Justice was mentioned because it symbolizes the justice. Justice states that even though you are rich or has a tons of money; it is not an excuse for you underestimate the poor. Whether you are rich or poor, the treatment should be fair.