"First they came..." by Martin Niemöller
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
***
"First they came…revisited" by Dennis Spilchuk
First they came for the unborn, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a woman.
Then they came for the children, and I did not speak out—
Because I had no children.
Then they came for the Trump supporters and I did not speak out—
Because I was not political.
Then they came for the unvaccinated—and no one spoke out for me.
***
Categories:
unionists, dark, discrimination, humanity, prejudice,
Form: Epigram
Bright like the diamond bright drop
Drizzle rain,
Drop drop drops down from beauty
Bushy Tree Leaf.
You're very pretty, like tears
Micro is play on the leaf,
My two hand in receives
The cool morning air with unionists.
Drizzle rain you beautiful
All the world, in the woods
Joy of nature all the while and made things a beast
Birdie-bird and plants.
O cloud me too in the future along with go
Full Dry, Dark Green, nature
In this world is jumping repeatedly in below
Drop drop drop.
Categories:
unionists, rain,
Form: Blank verse
Ambushed by gunmen on a highway in Ocotlán.
Threatened outside a mine site in San José del Golfo.
Shot dead by motorcycle gunmen while driving in Camotán.
Forced from their camp by mine trade unionists in La Sierrita.
Fired at while traveling to meet with fishermen of the Arauca River.
Thousands forcibly displaced by armed conflict in Cauca Department.
Arrested and held incommunicado on leaving his office at the University of Al Zaiem.
In serious but stable condition following a shooting after protesting the El Tambor mine.
Samples from letters
written to 'responsible authorities'
in places I’ve never been
in support of people
much like you and me
with hopes, tribulations
and kids with laughing faces;
perhaps with land.
Who for reasons various
are on the sharp edge
of the process
which provides us
with bright shirts, cheap coffee
and funny vignettes on my N+1g tab .
Occasionally my letters
are followed by good news,
or at least an acknowledgement.
The least I can do;
it's never enough,
yet I hope it keeps
a candle burning.
Written after 20+ years writing letters for Amnesty International's Urgent Action Network
Categories:
unionists, angst, truth,
Form: Free verse
Globally, miners jubilantly jump for joy
Smiles on the faces of every girl and boy
The grins of a newly opened Xmas toy
Thatcher’s dead.
Trade unionists bounce along the street
Music blaring and the tapping of feet
From nurses to Bobbies still on the beat
Thatcher’s dead.
Street parties announced in the nation
Satan who brought economic inflation
Is deceased, now’s the time for elation
Thatcher’s dead.
Its times like this I’m sad I’m an atheist
And can only shout and wave my fist
And then go to the pub and get pissed
Thatcher’s dead.
Categories:
unionists, adventure, angel, beautiful, business,
Form: Verse
Forget Not…Lest History Repeats
Victims of the Nazis Regime:
Jehovah's Witnesses and Jews.
Marched like chickens to their slaughter.
Once walked in twelve million, plus, shoes.
Social democrats and partisans,
Gypsies and orphans did death reap.
Disabled by body or mind –
Add more feet to the deadly heap.
Communists, and trade unionists,
Soviet prisoners-of-war,
Polish Intelligentsia,
Vacant shoe-stack grows from the floor.
Adolf Hitler ordered them killed.
Annihilation camp, grim rouse,
Death at Auschwitz-Birkenau –
The stench of death reeks in mourned shoes.
WRITTEN FOR ABE LOPEZ "Leather Voices" Contest
© Dane Smith-Johnsen
May 14, 2010
Poetic Form: Quatrains
Categories:
unionists, death, nostalgia, political, wardeath,
Form: Quatrain
Here shareholders and directors clash
Each eager to excoriate rival's flesh
They do not allow resolution to psas
And things come to a horrible impasse
Unionists hurl puzzling queries
On vexing issues each member varies
'Oust that director finance' someone shouts
At hat's throw, the house, protocol flouts
Some pedants and professors seize the mike
And boringly lecture as long as they like
A bolt from the blue query blindslides the chairman
Someone flays management's fawning fan
At length the outcome is zero
The hunt ends searching a new hero
Categories:
unionists, business, inspirational, people,
Form: Heroic Couplet