Only a sweater,coat, perhaps a cap
against the cold talcum
falling on a gray November day.
Surely, they were allowed warmth,
along with their wedding bands,
grandpa's watch,
and a pearl or two-
reminders of a world
now crumbled around them-
destined for history books,
as man's greatest inhumanity.

Packed tightly, they huddled
listening to the "clickity-clack"
of the wheels on the tracks
that swept them through
the menacing gate-eyes
peering through the cars'slats,
hearts fearing the Germans
would take their watches,
and wedding bands- never
knowing the eventual loss
of their shiny gold teeth-
Dachau's treasures.

09/07/2002

Posted on 09/07/2002
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