He penned the moving and oft quoted poem,

In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.

-Martin Niemoller

The second-most ubiquitous "First They Came For..." poem on the web addresses the oppressed minority of The Hackers.

Then they came for the anonymous remailers.
But a lot of nasty stuff gets sent from anon.penet.fi, so I didn't speak up.

The second-most popular oppressed group fitted to the stanzas is Poor Women. In this example Congresswoman Carol Moseley-Braun addresses their plight, and is advised to keep her day job.

Then they came for women in the Federal Government and I did not speak out --
because I did not work for the Government.

She didn't?! Then what the hell was she doing all those years - writing poetry?!

The Addicts is one of the few that qualifies as poetic. Riffing on the standard format, it puts a little unexpected twist on the ending.

My personal favorite is The Uninsured

First they came for the uninsured (by passing an unenforceable health insurance portability bill that prohibits private health insurers from imposing preexisting condition exclusions beyond twelve months, but not guaranteeing access to the same benefits or limiting the premiums that can be charged).

But my family and I have health insurance, so I wasn't concerned.

by Bob Griss

I'm not quite sure where Hevron is, but having once been evicted, I can empathize with the author. First they came for Hevron...

First they came for the fourth amendment, and I did not speak out, because I didn't deal drugs.

And from a beleagured militia man, first they came for The Weavers , then Peter, Paul and Mary... This one loses steam pretty fast, and well, since no one's really coming for me...but they might! Really, they've got a dossier on me as thick as my thumb. They're watching me. Really.

This one wins the prize for the most plaintive whine. We had to come for a lot of people before we could shut this guy up, but we feel it was worth it. First they came for
Unemployed Fathers With Child Support Arrearages

Then they came for fathers who wanted to drive
and I did not speak out because I had no car

By Phil Holman, President, NCFC

If you came from Seattle, the rain might drive you to write bad poetry too. First they came for The Panhandle rs.

Finally, they came for those uncivil people who behaved poorly in parks,
but I had my in-line skates and just rolled on by and didn't say anything.

This one is too humble. First they came for
The Blacks (and the Latinos and the American Indians)

Then they came for the nerds, dweebs and geeks.
I was silent. I was not a nerd, dweeb or geek.

And you knew there had to be one of these. First they came for The Pot Smokers. This one bears all the creativity of the one that came for the Weavers. Separated at birth?

The guy who penned, First They Came For People on  Assistance was so lazy he even used one of Niemoller's groups - trade unionists.

Then they came for the trade unionists and the farmers,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't either of these.

And a final one from Seattle? First they came for DOS Users. What did you expect from someone who feels oppressed due to the computer operating system he uses?

Do you have what it takes to be a poet? Send us your attempt, and if we like it, we'll post it.