Shut up, Luther,
Reckless truther!
Stop disturbing public peace and keep your thoughts in line.
Bold reformer?
Crude informer!
Flapping lips like yours unload our priceless pearls on swine.
Parlous preacher,
Falsehood-teacher,
Stifle that bound conscience lest you set the world on fire.
Silence, Martin!
You dishearten
Efforts to protect the folk from every kind of liar.
Brave proclaimer?
Dumb defamer!
Here you thought you’d seen the worst when you were at the Diet.
Shut up, Luther,
Reckless truther!
Trust us: we have ways and means to keep men like you quiet.
(Words by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, photo by Andrew L. Wilson, unironic muffling of Martin Luther by person or persons unknown.)