Poems Don't Have to Rhyme

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

So often,

Such words are used to quiet others.

The bad cop says to the criminal,

"You have the right to remain silent"

To shut them up.

How many even remember the original meaning of those

Seven simple words?

You have the right to remain silent

Because you know you are innocent,

And your every word may be used against you.

You have the right to remain silent,

For your tongue can't speak the language of your mind.

You have the right to remain silent,

As you have the right to remain deaf,

And we all have the right to speak our minds

But not, pray tell,

Directly to each other,

So take your opinion

and get it out of my face.

I did not speak to you,

So don't speak to me.

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to remain silent.

I have the right to remain silent,

But I chose to speak my mind.

You didn't agree--

but you could have ignored me.

You could have gone away.

Don't you have anything better to do?

Oh, the humanity!

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to remain silent.

We're all screaming it at everyone,

You have the right to remain silent.