The Lex Michael: Codicils in Free Verse [Copyright Michael Llenos 2014]
May the Lord God bless these Free Verses himself;
And may justice flow like Solomon's wealth....
I. [Anti-Actions] Free Verse Codicils for God’s Ten Commandments
1) We were once slaves, in a pagan filled land;
God alone lifted us from that dirty, hot, burden of sand.
The Lord God you shall worship, him alone, the Most High, up above;
Woe to the man who takes away a believer's prayer rug.
2) Look up towards the highest heavens, to worship the only God within;
Worshiping any other object is a cursed form of sin.
3) If you take God’s name in vain;
His wrath will flare up, and cause you much pain.
4) Press not your servant on the Sabbath day;
Rest those around you, or God will make you pay.
5) Honor and respect your parents, no matter what the cost;
If you don’t do so, your future will be lost.
6) Do not kill, or murder anyone;
For how do you know you are not killing God's favorite one?
7) Do not commit adultery with any female;
If you disobey this law, your soul will soon go up for sale.
8) If you steal, the Law will be broken;
But the man who obeys the Law, is worth a thousand gold tokens.
9) If in court you bear false witness against anyone;
You might have lava poured down your face, until you are well done.
10) Do not covet what belongs, to the next man;
Even musicians earn money from the original songs of their band.
II. [Rights] Free Verse Codicils for The U.S. Bill of Rights
1) Religion, speech, the press, assembly and petitions are your right;
Just as long as they are not excessive, or resort to an unlawful fight.
2) Citizens have a right to own hunting firearms;
Anything more deadly has lost its legal charms.
3) No soldier should force their way into a house;
For that’s worse than being run over, by a big creepy mouse.
4) People, houses, papers and effects should not be searched;
Unless the authorities have probable cause that you hurt someone or stolen their purse.
5) Unless you are a soldier, sailor, airman or marine;
Taking your life, liberty or property, must first be approved by a jury team.
You can only be tried once, for every offence gleaned;
And need not incriminate oneself, no matter how much a fiend.
6) For criminal prosecutions against you, you have witnesses in your favor;
With council sure and true, and with the power of a savior.
7) If common law justice, exceeding twenty dollars, is what they like;
A jury can only charge you, once but not twice.
8) Cruel and unusual punishments, excessive fines and bail;
Shall not be inflicted, nor required, no matter how bad your tale.
9) The counting and listing and combining of laws;
Shall not be used to do away with any unwritten freedom clause.
10) Unwritten laws and powers, and those not written down by the states;
Can empower every man, and increase his fortunes and fate.
III. [Solutions] Free Verse Codicils for Solon’s Tables: A Reconstruction of the Roman's Twelve Tables
1. During the darkness of night, in your home, a thief may be legally killed,
For he offers up his life's blood for his petty negligence and stupid will.
2. But before you kill the thief you must call out by yelling and shouting,
Only then will you stop his relatives from making a mission of tort pouting.
3. During the day you cannot kill a thief even if you shout,
But only if he is armed may you legally attack and take him out.
4. And if he is not armed and he doesn’t flee: but he loiters or attacks you,
You have the right to defend yourself and stab him in the back too.
5. A thief caught red-handed is liable to a certain degree of punishment,
But that can only happen through the police and your admonishment.
6. A manifest or non-manifest thief is nothing but a fool,
He is nothing more than nefarious and an evil pathetic tool.
7. A criminal can be forced to court no matter what the excuse,
If he doesn’t go to court he may be sent to prison without abuse.
8. If the criminal is too old or if the criminal is too sick,
A wheelchair is needed and not just two wooden sticks.
9. A person can own property through ‘usucapio’,
Just as long as the intention was never to rob one’s fellow people.
10. If a person gained land through a botched handing over,
It is not their land unless there also was a ‘res mancipi’ that was sober.
11. Squatters can take over two acres of land that are unsettled and not fallow,
That is their right so that they have a place to survive and make tallow.
12. If you own extra land that you don’t want to be taken by some squatter band,
You must at least have 5x5 feet of earth plowed on every two acres of farmland.
The End.
Copyright Michael Llenos 2000-2014
Website: michael.www2.50megs.com