Himmelweg: Block Fall from the Zyklon Door

T.Wignesan

When you have passed nonplussed

by rumours

of ovens

of being burned alive by the horde

calcinated bones in torrid ashes

teeth without a name

pebbles in the sands of hate waves

When between you and the other side

is the block-flesh thrust through to Himmelweg

too late

you smell the zyklon trap

about to be sprung on your innocence

your children looking to you for a way out

not daring to believe

you have left home without an answer

You can only wonder at how they led you

each child's hand ensconced in its mother's

the old and the infirm weeded out

the pill in the nape

of men rushed ahead from their charges

huddled

slapped jostled

whipped

for daring to ask with rifle butt

whacked

jabbed bundled

trundled

the eye searching hazily the breach under the helmet

benumbed fate

squashed hope

in the last faltering meek steps

It's only

when you're on the other side of yourself

between you and the block-flesh

forming on the other side of the zyklon door

You may wonder why you let your anger go

in safekeeping

© T.Wignesan 1987

July 2, 1987

[from the collection: back to background material, 1993]