Despite the fact that I first published this here over three years ago, it seems imperative to reblog it now given current events in Virginia and elsewhere.
“This is the biggest cemetery for Jews, Poles, Roma and Sinti. It must tell us that we have to come back here again and again. We must keep the memory of the worst crime in human history alive for those who were born later.” – Horst Koehler, Germany President
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.” – Martin Niemöller
This post is dedicated to the memories of Claire Magnani (who wanted it read but couldn’t hear it anymore), Manya and Meyer Korenblit, Chaim Nagelstein and too many others.
*
…To the left
Naked they cling to each other
Husband and wife parent to child
Lovers embrace
O mother, with infant at your breast
You must be cleansed
To the side of the large stone building
Lay the belongings
Of those who are to be cleansed
You who wear a yellow star
You shall be cleansed
Soldiers rummage through mounds of clothing
Items are catalogued
By the hundreds
They line up for the showers
Men, women, children
With paralyzing fear
They are herded through large doors
A small boy of five
With piercing brown eyes
Clutches his mother’s arm
As the gas permeates the room
Amid the screams
Comes the cry
“Hush mien kindelein hashem is with us”
And they are cleansed
And Germany is cleansed
And the ovens are cleansed
Made ready for those who will follow
Skeletal remnants of men
Must remove the remains
Of their brothers and sisters
Must pry the gold from their mouths
Must fill German coffers
Must kindle the fires with the bones
Of those they love
Germany must be
Cleansed
Purify
Pile another corpse into the ovens
Those hollow cheeks the vacant stares
Fire will purify
Cold grey ashes will not tell
Of what has been done
Thick black smoke fills the nostrils
With deaths stench
And violates the skies of Europe
Rich German soil harbors mass graves
And Germany will not be cleansed
*
NEVER AGAIN!
Bisous,
Léa
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poetry, photos and musings oh my! 