‘What I have written, I have written,’ Pilate
spoke in refutation of a request
to change a statement in writing, something
we all at some time in our lives encounter,
when regret swells to scratch what’s written down.
How many a passionate rendition
on paper has been perused, then amended,
worse, posted irrevocably, then
retracted as though we wished we hadn’t,
though words at the time were evidence plain
of intent, expressed the truth, could not have
been otherwise; and any change induced
after the event, call it apology
or repentance, or fear of consequences -
Pilate had none of these – is something else.
