Justice by Gelett Burgess (1903)
The poem Justice by Gelett Burgess is a humorous take on the concept of justice and how it can be interpreted differently depending on one's perspective. The poem begins with the line "I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one" which sets the tone for the absurdity that follows. Throughout the poem, Burgess uses various examples to illustrate his point about the subjectivity of justice and how it can be interpreted differently by different people. The poem ends with the line "But I'd rather see than be one", suggesting that while we may not always agree on what is just or fair, we should strive to understand each other's perspectives.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1903 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Moral Instruction · 76 words
First lines
Whenever brother's sent to bed, Or punished, do not go And peer at him and jeer at him, And say, "I told you so!"
Nor should you try to make him laugh When he has been so bad; Let him confess his naughtiness Before you both are glad!
What this Textopian page supports
Justice is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Moral Instruction
- Length: 76 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Justice by Gelett Burgess
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Justice?
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Similar titles
- Equity by George Macdonald
- An Eye For An Eye by Clarence Darrow
- The Lawlessness Of Lawyers by G. K. Chesterton
- The Duty Of The Strong by Gelett Burgess
- The Amnesty For Aggression by G. K. Chesterton
- The Worst Crime In The World by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Children's Literature — The writing style and themes are simple and moralistic, aimed at teaching children proper behavior.
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, with rhyming lines and a rhythmic pattern.
- Moral Instruction — The content focuses on imparting a moral lesson about behavior and consequences.
Tags
justice · morality · ethics · philosophy · law · society · human rights · fairness · inequality · crime · punishment · retribution