To the Artist's Page     To our home page

To Brian McCandless's next piece

The Littlest Nazi

The littlest Nazi, Alice Green,
grew up with dreams inside her head
that girls like her were better girls
and other girls were better dead.

Not that she practiced violence:
In fact, she practiced violin.
But she was not afraid to speak
on matters of her discipline.

It simply seemed to Alice Green
that fair complexions and blue eyes
bespoke a better sort of mind.
All else was dingy pious lies.

And so small people grew enraged,
and several chased her through the town;
while others filed civil suits
and tried to wear her family down

till one day Alice turned around
and quieted the rabble's taunts:
All people ought to have the right
to say and think the way they want,

quoth Alice Green. This is my creed.
We learn it every year in school
and you may hate me for my thoughts
but I will not live by mob rule.

And so she stood and dared the crowd
to strike a pretty eight-year-old
who'd simply tried to live her life
as best she heard what conscience told.

And no one there, not black or Jew,
could stand to smash that pretty face--
behind which seemed a heart and mind
as pure as any of their race.

Said old Ben Levy, Leave her be.
She simply speaks as she believes.
We cannot make her love us all
or take her thoughts like palace thieves.

So Alice Green collected hugs
and all assembled made a vow
to let each other live in peace.
And so I will, she thought.  For now.

To the top of this page