alone, i enter the “gas chamber” -
no one’s there, no screaming naked bodies.
the only fear is in my mind – i
must get out, feeling claustrophobic.


exiting and to my right, a setup -
a dummy behind a machine gun
my pulse quickens, throat is dry.


then to my left: hair cuttings, glasses, teeth, clothing -


my eyes hurt as i read – many children were thrown
into the ovens A L I V E.


the horror constricts my brain. horrible to imagine
one crazed serial murderer and this was a large part of a country.


cruelty has sharp claws, hidden behind breath and flesh
gifted by God. monsters have lovely hair, straight teeth,
families preparing dinner, friends cheering with


CLINKING CRYSTAL.


going home, they smile, swing loved ones around,
kiss their merry cheeks,


and they R E E K with death.

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the beginning of the end started one day for different families.
But I didn’t dare say anything because it wasn’t happening to me.
The cries of children rang throughout the town.
Their eyes of different color shed tears on the ground.

The Germans chose which way they would go.
Families torn apart, feelings were shown.
Men that seemed strong before now began to cry.
I sat back and relaxed and wondered why.

I wondered why being different was so bad.
Everyone is different, I felt so sad.
Sad because it wasn’t me, sad because it was you.
Sad because of the many things people didn’t do.

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Do I want to remember?
The peaceful ghetto, before the raid:
Children shaking like leaves in the wind.
Mothers searching for a piece of bread.
Shadows, on swollen legs, moving with fear.
No, I don’t want to remember, but how can I forget?
Do I want to remember, the creation of hell?
The shouts of the Raiders, enjoying the hunt.
Cries of the wounded, begging for life.
Faces of mothers carved with pain.
Hiding Children, dripping with fear.
No, I don’t want to remember, but how can I forget?
Do I want to remember, my fearful return?
Families vanished in the midst of the day.
The mass grave steaming with vapor of blood.
Mothers searching for children in vain.
The pain of the ghetto, cuts like a knife.
No, I don’t want to remember, but how can I forget?
Do I want to remember, the wailing of the night?
The doors kicked ajar, ripped feathers floating the air.
The night scented with snow-melting blood.
While the compassionate moon, is showing the way.
For the faceless shadows, searching for kin.
No, I don’t want to remember, but I cannot forget.
Do I want to remember this world upside down?
Where the departed are blessed with an instant death.
While the living condemned to a short wretched life,
And a long tortuous journey into unnamed place,
Converting Living Souls, into ashes and gas.
No. I Have to Remember and Never Let You Forget.

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Sisters and brothers
Eradicated with hate
Chimneys spewing death

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Hiding in the shadows,
Deadly monsters lurk.
My family all took showers,
But never came out clean.
For these monsters who had taken them,
Were unexplainably mean.
I fear the day that it may come,
For them to take me, too.
And against their deadly weapons,
There will be nothing I can do.
I sew and stitch every day,
I wait for God to look my way.
They punch us, kick us, throw us down,
They make our faces rub the ground.
Some are gassed, some are shot,
But none of them deserved what they got.
I’m taking it all day by day,
Still waiting for God to look this way.
I’ll wait until the very end,
I’ll wait until I’m free.
No matter how hard these Germans try,
They’ll never take hope from me.

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