A large portion of this poem by volume is the same few phrases. Repetition is often used in oral storytelling as a strategy for the speaker to remain consistent when they perform. Because Niemöller was often giving speeches, the repetitive nature of this poem allowed him to execute the phrase at opportune times. The refrains also meant that the subject was infinitely interchangeable; Niemöller could call upon certain groups depending on the context of the speech, making it an adaptable way to incorporate this important theme into discussions about many issues.

“First they came…” is an unmetered poem in free verse. The syntactical regularity of the refrains create a sort of rhythm within the poem on the level of the phrase. The refrains occur in the following order: “they came…” (Lines 1, 2, 3, 4), “and I did not speak out” (Lines 1, 2, 3), “because I was not a…” (Lines 1, 2, 3). This steady beat creates a sense of dread as one group after the other is named and not defended. Each phrase is roughly the same length between punctuation, which follows the pattern of comma, em dash, and period.