I look into the eyes of strangers and family

My face and theirs touching

The cattle car jerks as it slowly begins to start moving

We knock around a little bit, hitting each other

Outside the window of the car I see the ghettos disappear behind us

 

We come to a sudden stop and the doors open

The smell of burning flesh streams into the cart

Where are we?

Auschwitz, death concentration camp

Final good-byes to my mother and sister

For I don’t know when the next time I will see them

We head for the crematorium

Knowing our end of the story is coming

Two steps away and we turn our backs

Saved from death only to go live death

 

The morning bells ring

Everyone hurries for roll call

For we all know if we do not show we will be killed

We then head to the factories to work and obey every rule

This goes on forever, never ending

Day after day till death

 

The SS comes for selections every now and then

They come to select the ill or weak

Then send them to the crematorium

I stand tall and act strong

But I know I am weak and getting sick

 

The Nazis and Hitler are coming to kill us all

Now we take the Death Journey

It is wintertime and we must hike miles everyday

Everywhere people are dropping like leaves on a plant in autumn

They close their eyes and slowly drift into sleep, forever

 

We fight on

I can smell the end coming

Finally we come to the last camp

Father is sick with dysentery

He is giving up hope and is ready to sleep

The next day I wake up to see him gone

 

Americans have arrived to liberate us Jews from the never-ending journey

I go home to find no one but myself

In my closet are my old clothes covered in the Star of David

It is now just myself

And God

 

                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEVER ENDING

Eleni S.