First they came for the undocumented,
and I stayed silent—because I had papers.
Then they came for the naturalized,
and I looked away—because I was born here.
Then they came for the Muslims,
and I said nothing—because I wasn’t one of them.
Then they came for the protesters,
and I kept my distance—because I didn’t want trouble.
Then they came for my neighbor,
and I shut the blinds—because it wasn’t my problem.
Then they came for me—
And by then, there was no one left
who remembered how to speak.