Ashes Poetry

to stand in judgement upon others
to view impartially
to assess the evidence
in the blink of a moment

before accession or denial of appeal
without expert witnesses
cross-examination
advice taken in chambers
whatever’s laid bare in camera

our aim is simple
to make most perfect the verdict
from the most imperfect of tasks
until all decisions are good
however badly they may be taken

on the occasion of umpire Rudi Koertzen’s hundredth test match