Silence

by John M. Joyce (December 2022)

The Latecomer, Salman Toor, 2021

And when you speak and say: “I speak for you,”
I say: “You do not speak for me,
for I alone, and no one else, can speak for me.”

And when you say that I’m oppressed and
losing in life’s lottery because of what I am;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say there’s no such thing as gay,
you must be trans, so change and do it now because you can;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say that I cannot understand because
I’m white and privileged so must add silence to my guilt;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say that I and mine are murdering our world,
so we must stop and willingly undo the good we built;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say the children find that nature is the most confusing thing,
so they must bind their breasts and cut their bits as your cult’s sacrifice;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say that I and mine are racist to the core
and equal opportunity is but a sham device;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say that I am old and male and of no consequence and
should not interfere in your much longed for and anticipated bliss;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you vote and count the votes and say you vote and cheat for me
’cause I’m too stupid to see that things are truly much amiss;
I say: “You do not speak for me.”

And when you say with force that I must not speak for I am wrong
and my poor words for all the weak and credulous are far too strong;
I say: “No longer can I speak for me,
but mark, for soon there’ll be no speech for thee.”

John M. Joyce is a business professional in the U.K.

Follow NER on Twitter @NERIconoclast.

by John M. Joyce (December 2022)

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