Past Tense, Present Imperfect

The past makes me
I’m here where the past has brought me
Success is from all the good old things a-past,
Failure is from all the bad old things a-past

The place creates me
I do and I think and I see
The world is made of all the things around me;

No past and no present and no place,
All the things are so an-obscure
What was my past that into here, I’m lured?
Where was I, which no more am I sure?
With all the past and places
I’m sinking into deep shit.

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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.

MARTIN NIEMÖLLER

   SOCIALISTS      UNIONISTS      JEWS      ME   

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