In Your Lager Dream

the black sun
turns orange and warm.
the stench of the cremo is gone.
the boils and pus and lice are gone.
the blue tattoo
fades from your wrist.
the green dye
fades from your eyes.
your long black hair is back,
you brush and comb it,
tie it with your favorite ribbon.
the SS man gives you back
your wool coat with the yellow star.
you give him back the paper bag
stuffed under your dress.
he doesn’t take your number.
in your dream you’re alone.
the Blockalteste is gone.
the Kapo is gone.
your Kommando is gone.
where are the Häftlinge?
you scream. and scream.
the loud speaker blares
Du jude, kaputt!
the chimney belches red and black
the guards sing Duetschland ueber Alles.
they sing the Horst Wessel song.
in your dream the snow is red.
Arbeit Macht Frei over the gate is red.
your red soup bowl floats. empty.
like iron words.

copyright 2003 Stephen Herz