Fine People

By Paul Colton

Based on Martin Niemöller’s confession-turned-poem, “First they came …”

First a fine man killed six Sikhs in a Wisconsin temple
but Republicans did not act
because they’re not Sikhs

Then a fine man murdered black worshippers in Charleston
but Republicans did not act
because they’re not black

Then a fine man ran down counter-protestors in Charlottesville
but Republicans did not act
because they’re not lefties

Then a fine man slaughtered 11 Jews praying in Pittsburgh
but Republicans did not act
because they’re not Jews

Then a fine man assassinated Hispanics in an El Paso Walmart
but Republicans will not act decisively
because they’re not Hispanic

Soon fine people will come for pale-skinned moderates
but then it will be too late to stifle
their seething hate and assault rifles

Paul Colton has been writing about life’s vagaries for thirty-plus years. His poetry and essays have appeared in more than 75 magazines, literary journals, and poetry anthologies, including The Literary Hatchet, The Satirist, and The Moon magazine.

Photo credit: Christopher Althouse Cohen via a Creative Commons license.