The Young Men With the Guns

for Father Roy Bourgeois

“Let those who have a voice speak for the voiceless.”
                       — Bishop Oscar Romero

None of it could have happened
not the killings, the rapes, the brutality
without the young men with the guns.

Bishop Romero saw this clearly.
Lay down your arms, he said.
This, the day before his assassination,

the day before they shot him at the altar.
God, forgive them, they only follow orders.
They know not what they do.

But the politicians and the generals
know what they do
when they give their orders
to murder at the altar.

None of it could have happened
not the killings, the rapes, the brutality
without the politicians and the generals.

The ones who sit in dark rooms
and stuff their mouths with food
before they give the orders.

The people are silent.
Their mouths will not open.
They hang their heads and avert their eyes.

Of course, they are afraid
of the young men with the guns
who carry out the orders.

None of it could have happened
without the people remaining silent.

The Bishop staggered, he bled, he died.
But he will never be silenced.

Vaya aquí para la versión española.