by way of explanation

by way of explanation and defence
we mask the feeling and we hide the fact
not out of decency kindness or tact
with suchlike qualities we soon dispense
but since a trial with due speed may commence
and with the future we have no compact
we leave you with the gaoler to extract
what may remain of honesty and sense
rivers may flow but we shall never care
for what the waters might have had to say
we took our silver and we gave our word
to those for whom such things were very clear
regarding what the promise was each day
and in the quiet merely watched the bird