The neighborhood changed
the day the dead moved in.
The rich barred their gates,
the reputable fled.
Those of us who stayed
sat at our windows
watching the vans creep up,
trying to peer into their faces.
It was beastly quiet.
One by one, a few of us
went over
to see if there was anything
we could do.
But there was nothing
we could do.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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