When fairness lingers indecisive
in olive hues of sunburnt skin
in raven tresses hidden by hijabs
in what’s different from you;
it’s your acceptance
of the details in what’s fair or dark.
Cause fairness isn’t always fair;
what’s fair is never square
but rounded or uneven,
jagged and thorny;
like a long-stemmed rose;
where we only care about
the colors of its petals;
and not about the lifeline of the stem.
The vanity of fairness
can be bought in botox bottles
and peroxide hues;
but fairness is much more
— it’s you and me.
———
Today Gay inspire us to write about the word fair at DVerse MTB.
—
November 6, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
So true, “it’s your acceptance”. Great poem (and timely, in the debate of the “poppy jihabs”).
The poppy hijabs had not been discussed here in Sweden.. so that was new to me.
nice step through several of the facets of fair…truly the concept of fair goes we beyond human means to produce it…how can you, when life, the fates and opportunity is not fair….
Yes. never expect life to be fair.. but we can still stand up to what’s unfair.
very interesting thoughts you have expressed here and so timely.
Thank you.. and I was not even aware of the recent hijab debate…
Bjorn, It seems many have to examine their definition of fairness. Well written. 🙂 — Suzanne
I think fair can mean so many things.
I often wonder if fairness is an illusion. Great exploration of the word.
I have no illusions left about fairness… but I think we can try not to be unfair.
you did get me thinking about my own levels of fairness and in those around me
True that fairness isn’t always fair. And perhaps it is seldom fair at all. Smiles. Except to the winners or those who make the rules.
it’s you and me… that is a cool sum up there in the close… what’s fair is never square
but rounded or uneven… so true… there is no real definition and what fair is or not can change from one moment to the next
What a fine poem exploring the facets of fair. I was happy you liked the topic. After I wrote the article, I wondered if it were appropriate, but the more I thought of its ramifications I believed it was a worthy prompt and your poem validates that indeed it was. Very fresh images in this poem.
Nicely played fair against fair. I like the petals vs. the life line of the stem!
A strong entry at the dVerse Fair for today; strong, wise, artful, complete, & able to shake inquiring minds into new frames of fair references. We were on a similar wave length today, brother, as I dug into divers aspects of the word, the thing; nice job, fun ride.
fairness is indeed, you and me! Nice write!
Lovely sentiment, well expressed.
Wow, that sucked me right in.-.each word, each stanza, the rose and its stem, the olives skin of the girls, the paradoxes, ditto what Glenn said about strong, wise and artful.-
I was very moved by this poem, how some seek what they believe to be fair not realizing it is not outward fairness that matters. Beautifully written!
Fare is not always fare..really liked the reference of the rose..
I really like your take on fair: fair is not black and white! And there are often two sides to fairness.
And thus you tackle all aspects and nuances of the word ‘fair’…
Brilliant — “fair is never square”
The images and language feed the complexity of an unfair abstraction.
as Glen says wise and artful with a new meaning added in “but fairness is much more / — it’s you and me.”…
All’s “fair” in love….yes, it boils down to the “you and me” – nice take.
“Cause fairness isn’t always fair” such an intriguing (and true) statement… this all has me pondering, “what really is fair?”…or is that better worded as “what fair really is?” hmm…
Loves the ties at the end of each stanza. Last one was a subtle one, but caught me right good.
I love where you went with this. No we’re not all fair, our perception shapes our opinion.
Nice poem, Bjorn. Indeed, fairness is not an exact science.
the lifeline of the stem – loved that! This is a thought provoking poem, Bjorn.
Humankind in inclined, I think, to hang on to the notion that there must be fairness hiding … somewhere … though we seldom look to ourselves to provide it.
I love this, Bjorn, especially, “fairness is much more – it’s you and me”.