Then They Came for the Comedians

A poem for Jimmy Kimmel and his brave stand for free speech.

My Fellow Democracy Defenders,

First they came for the freedom fighters. Now they are coming for the comedians. Jimmy Kimmel was cancelled for daring to speak truth to power. We must keep pushing back against the fascists with art, humor, and poetry. He has inspired me to write a poem, similar to other brave democracy defenders such as Heather Cox Richardson, Jasmine Crockett, Karen Bass, E. Jean Carroll, and Kamala Harris. Bess Kalb used to write for Jimmy’s show and always makes me laugh.

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Kimmel's Stand: A Late-Night Anthem

In the glow of the studio lights so bright,
Jimmy Kimmel takes the stage each night,
With jokes that sting and truths that bite,
Against the tide of fascist might.

Trump's shadow looms, a stormy cloud,
With rallies roaring, echoes loud,
He spins his webs of fear and doubt,
But Jimmy calls the emperor out.

From monologues sharp as a comic's blade,
He mocks the marches, the power parade,
Exposing lies in the deals they've made,
A voice for the voiceless, unafraid.

Yet whispers rise from halls of gold,
To silence the satire, bold and cold,
"Cancel the show!" the censors scold,
But that's the spark where freedoms fold.

For speech is the shield in democracy's fight,
Not bent by the whims of the ruling elite,
To mute the jester in the dead of night
Is tyranny's triumph, a fascist's delight.

So raise your remotes, laugh at our orange wanna-be king,
Jimmy's our jester in this chaotic fling,
Against the storm, he dares to sing—
Defend free speech, let freedom ring!