Years Have Sped By

Poems

Horror of the Twentieth Century

Interminably you drag on, my night, --

'Tis yet long till the dawning . . .

Someone chaos to the world has brought -- --

My mind is filled with painful gnawing . . .

 

Human flesh in crematoria

Was burned, suffocated in black smoke and flame . . .

The enemy played oratorios

While every drop of blood was drained

From body and brain.

 

You plod on with "tallis and tfilin"¹, my Jew,

Your feet scarcely able to serve you . . .

There's music somewhere, it seems,

That accompanies your sinister dreams.

 

From whence came this evil edict

to wipe out six million Jews?

Who can remain silent-or ever forget?

How can one perceive such gruesomeness?

 

A world remained silent . . .

No one seemed touched by dreadful lament,

Tragic, blood-soaked chant;

For what sin was this plague sent?

 

The musician trudged with his fiddle,

The child, like a mother, carried her doll . . .

The rabbi, in Sabbath garment -- a spade . . .

An artist, a sketch of the horror-drama made!

 

A Jew, for virtue's sake, carries a bible,

As tears upon his satin coat fall . . .

And nazi, in leather jacket gloats, --

And counts, as he lines up Jews against the wall . . .

 

Lives, old and young, are cut down . . .

Walls are splattered with blood.

Plundered Jew: your deep sorrow bewail --

But don't lose your courage or pride!

 

Oh, you Lord, sovereign of all nations!

How did you bear human misery?

How did you permit the burning-the ashes . . .

And let your people pay so dearly?

 

True, a nazi recently took his life by rope.

Humanity was thus robbed of its due,

When it couldn't reach that throat . . .

Soon another artist will sketch this scene.

 

While another nazi has his own life severed . . .

Leaping down from tall edifice.

A good beginning, as I live, my Lord . . .

But small balm for such sorrow, a sacrifice!

 

However, other thousands of assassins live like lords,

In every corner of the world's reaches . . .

Our enemies well utilize these hordes,

For Hitler was their teacher.

 

This does not end our tragic story,

For hangmen still live, and occupy soft places,

With gnashing teeth and murderous eyes.

Oh how distant we are from breathing freely . . .

 

Interminably you drag on, my night . . .

'Tis yet long till the dawning -- --

Someone, chaos to the world has brought,

Our anguish is so difficult in the bearing! . .

1. Tallis -- prayer shawl

2. Tfilinin or tefillin-Phylacteries -- thongs and small leather cases containing portions of thee Psalms. Placed on head and forearms for morning prayers.