WITH APOLOGIES TO PASTOR NIEMOELLOR

First they came for the Jews
and I spoke out
even though I was not a Jew

Then they came for the Communists
and again I spoke out
and the Jews spoke out with me
even though many of us at that time
were not with the Communists

Then they came for the Trade Unionists
and again I spoke out
and the Jews and the Communists
spoke out with me
even though again
many of us were not Trade Unionists

And when at last they came for me
the Jews and the Communists
the Trade Unionists many others
recognised our common enemy
and all spoke out together.

And suddenly the enemy
seemed very small indeed
and simply faded away.

24/11/91 Published in 'One Small Stride'




Click the link below to read more about the poet
More about Mark