Poetry Hits The High Courts

By Londonist Last edited 202 months ago
Poetry Hits The High Courts
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"They do not love that do not show their love. The course of true love never did run smooth. Love is a familiar. Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but Love."

"Sadly, only bitterness has proved to have flourished in the soil in which once hope and love had briefly seemed viable."

"Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on."

Three quotes about love. One credited to the most famous playwright of all time, one to a cheesy Canadian songstress...and one to a High Court Judge.

In his judgment on a former couple’s dispute over the division of their Twickenham property, Mr Justice Lindsay got in touch with his inner poet. Barry Young and his ex-partner Rebecca Lauretani got a lesson in love as well as a judgement.

"This action is concerned with the always-vexed questions which arise when the relationship between parties who have lived together as if man and wife has broken down; where sadly, only bitterness has proved to have flourished in the soil in which once hope and love had briefly seemed viable."

We think this judge is on to something, and think that all judgements should now be passed this way. Perhaps prosecuting lawyers should be asked to outline the case through the medium of limerick, and juries could give verdict-by-haiku. If nothing else, it would make television crime dramas vastly more entertaining.

By Alice Huzar

Image taken from Chillicheese's Flickr photostream.

Last Updated 31 May 2007