Calm

In a lot of ways
that was the greatest compliment
I could have been given
at that moment in that place
standing before the judge,
telling the story
that had been lost in the law
in the code, in the costs
telling the story
that he could not tell
without too much emotion
too raw, too urgent
Speaking for him
in that cathedral space
a hall of justice,
or maybe more of a room
but able to get the points
out in a calm, measured way