The Stairs of Death

I wrote this poem for my Honors English class when we were given a photograph and were told to write an inspired poem from it.

The Stairs of Death

The Todesstiege, Stairs of Death

How elegantly it flows off the tongue

But under my breath, curse its existence.

Mauthausen has set the fates of many:

Friends, enemies, strangers; they see us

No differently. We’re all equal, as equal as

The grime scuffed off their shoes.

The disgusting pigs that call themselves guards

Guard nothing more than Hell’s gate.

 

Two roads can be taken, both paths beaten down.

Carry those granite stones to the top, expanding

The route of others until death do them part, or face

These merciful pigs one last time before parting

With Mother Earth herself.

 

As granite crumbles off of my shoulders,

The darkness I once lived in fades to light.

I am home.

Reviews

[Little Amy Lee]

This is beautiful
=]