Last week 1,000 Jews and allies
Surrounded ICE Headquarters in protest
Chanting Never Again
Like a shofar sounding pain
From Auschwitz to Gulag to Mount Sinjar
Yet I was not there to bring relief
Nor were the millions like me
Familiar with history’s howl of pain
But not the steady breath of justice:

Are you not out of breath?

Last week I should have been arrested
And on this relaxed Saturday
I should be in some jail
Awaiting the judgement
Of some judge who believes
Justice is blind
But we know it’s not:
Ask the toddler defending herself
Alone in court
Her asylum claim resting on rights
She can’t possibly understand:

Don’t you understand what’s at stake?

Yes, last week were I not a coward
I would have lost my voice shouting
The Whole World is Watching
And even if it wasn’t
Even if it made no difference
Even if we were too busy being entertained
At least when he is old enough to understand
I could have shown my six-month-old son
I did my best to be on the right side of history:

O, how do you know when it’s too late?