First they came for someone else.

Valery Tumbayev

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me -
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Martin Niemöller

To this I'd like to add:

Then they came for the Palestinians,
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Palestinian.

Then they came for me -
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

No one would have dared.

Valery Tumbayev
______________________________

Crucifixion
Anna Akhmatova
Tr. by Judith Hemschemeyer

1

A choir of angels sang the praises of that momentous hour,
And the heavens dissolved in fire.
To his Father He said: “Why hast Thou forsaken me!”
And to his Mother: “Oh, do not weep for Me . . .”

2
Mary Magdalene beat her breast and sobbed,
The beloved disciple turned to stone,
But where the silent Mother stood, there
No one glanced and no one would have dared.