Jewish women and children arrive at the “Selection Ramp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau.  In less than an hour, they will all be stripped naked and die in one of the gas chambers.  Look closely at each face.  Never forget them.

 We Are Almost Gone

Released at last
from the dark cattle cars,
the nightmare past
we hoped. Ours,
a futile grope for ended dreams.
The sun is bright,
the blue sky hurts our eyes,
and dark smoke, still beyond our sight,
where horror down a narrow pathway lies.
Look at us! The almost dead.
You cannot hear the muffled cries,
the silent miseries of dread.
The few short minutes left
before the gas, bereft, bereft
of hope. Our waning minutes pass
without time; eternity already lies
before us: blue skies,
and keening chorus.

© 27 June 2017 Walter William Melnyk
All Rights Reserved.