Never again. Nie wieder. Plus jamais.

A old man wanted to thank a American Soldier.

Never again. Nie wieder. Plus jamais.

(The old man spoke with tears.
Told me it must never happen again.
He  told me he watched his brothers and parent walk into death arms.
He could not do anything.)

I was sitting alone at the train station in Stuttgart in 1978.
 A old man sat at my table and offered his hand.


I took it and asked what does he want?

He told me. "On this day 33 years ago.
A American soldier broke down  the wall of  the concentration camp.
Picked him off the floor and held him. "


The soldier hand fed him because he was too weak to feed himself. 
The soldier took care of him for three months. 
He was very weak and never asked the soldier name.


He wanted to thank a American.
By  buying a American  Soldier a  meal today.

He showed me his mark.
A tattoo he held proudly.


Forced numbers put on  men and woman showing they were  Jews.


I told him. "Please sit with me.
I would be honor to eat with him."

I listen to stories of good times and bad.
Tears came to his old eyes when he told me.
How they separate him from his family at the train station.
He never saw them again.


His family made the mistake of hoping for common sense and sanity.

Most of his family went to Auschwitz.
He never saw them again.


He was lucky being strong and young.
He went to work camps in Germany.

He lived in Switzerland now.
He  learn to appreciate everyday being alive.
He whispered " I still don't understand the hate for us from the Germans."
 

I said very little.
I had great respect for this man.


 He taught me what we can endure to stay alive.

His last words stays with me.


 As he shook my hand.

 
His eyes filled with tears.


Told me.

"I  pray everyday this Never again happens again.
 Nie Wieder."

He left me sitting alone.
Thinking how hateful and cold this world can be.

                                      Coyote

                                     November 2008 

 

Author's Note

I was a 19 year Soldier in Germany.That day I knew I was taught all life is important.
Coyote

Reviews

[Dani The Unreviewed]

This one is very well written. I've learned about all this in history class. The jewish people were in an extremely dangerous, and cruel situation. The nazi government began with prosecuting them way before the second world war. They were sent to "work camps" I'd say the proper word does not exist to describe the inhuman treatment they were put through. They were forced to work till they died. Killed using gas, shot. There was a Hungarian poet, who was also jewish. He and a lot of others were taken from one camp to another, and finally they were forced to dig out their own mass grave, and then the soldiers shot them, straight in the grave. Nasty stuff. Anyway, I read his poems, all of them. I wish someone would have translated them, so i could show you. 100 points.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. World been at war for 10,000 years. The poem told of a man who survived hell and stay human.

[Dani The Unreviewed]

You are welcome.

[donny ingraham]

truly heartfelt

[Becky C Strukamp]

A warm heart felt writing, told as only Coyote Poetry can tell. Excellent!! Loved it as I do all your poetry and stories.

[Stormy Weather]

This is the first poem I've read that was about a holocaust survivor.....and it brought tears to my eyes. Amazing poem.

[?]

awwwwwww man, now you gonna make me cry. {tear just dropped}
Emotional, heartfelt piece coyote as most of yours are along this subject.

[kdpgrahi]

Very descriptive and emotional. A well written poem

[∂αʌ<..]

wow...a heartful story...just so touching...very thought provoking deep poem!

amazing.... so very emotional. thanks for the read request...

[Sukriti Suki]

You write about incidents that alter life, change paths and make us believe in destiny...The way you describe incidents in your life, make ours enriched. I cannot fathom the amount of wisdom you have, but today I would really like to thank you for sharing it with all of us here. Most of us are not as lucky as you are to meet such great people...but with the little peek I get, through your words, I feel lucky to be here...Thank you ever so much...souls like your's give poetry a new dimension.

[TheElfPrincess]

Wonderful....made me shed some tears. It was such a beautiful poem. Well done and thank you for sharing it.

[Vestigial Appendage]

Oh wow, very emotional. Lovely.