girl with a balance the balance suspended perfect between east and west. her hand stops three inches above the mantle. she dare not move should she upset the balance. she masks her apprehension with cocked head to the side, intently watching the balance.

she plays judge to the weighing of air on scales, except that she's no lawyer, nor trained judge, just a mere girl playing with unfamiliar instruments. in the background are maps, a turkish mantled table, rich with maroons and lavish threads. on her shoulders are wool, and velvet, a robe. a hood hides her hair.

she is a dream, a possibility, in case someone awakes and considers, "might there be women out there willing to practice law with the rest of us? for we could definitely use the insight," they said, "the newness of ideas."

but even these groundbreaking moments remain a dream, the way the sun highlights each fold of her gown, the way the sun visits every bump on the stone wall hind her. it is a possibility that a female could some day take the stand that rules the fate of another, but for now, the possibility remains trapped in a mere painting by 16th century vermeer.   ¶ 10/22/2004 10:56:00 PM