I Did Nothing[i]

Inspired by Martin Niemöller, Amit pens a protest poem in the Indian context, exclusively for Different Truths.

First, they came for Dalits,

                               I did not speak out, because Dalits are not humans to me;

Then, they start lynching Muslims,

                                I did not speak out because Muslims are invader to me;

Then, they start lynching Christians,

                                I did not speak out, because I was not Christians;

Next, they came for secular,

                                I did not speak out, because I hated secular,

Later, they came for writers,

                               I did not speak out, because I was not writer;

Afterwards, they lynch liberals and leftist;

                               I stood silently, because I was not them;

Then, they came for me,

                               And there was no one left

To speak out for me.

Photo from the Internet                            

[i]   Poet’s Note: Not my original idea, with respect to Martin Niemöller