Driving through the West Country, Holocaust Memorial Day, 2008

 

A bright, cold winter morning.

At Exeter, frosted stone threw light back at the sky.

In the river valley, a band of white mist,

Like something one might lay over a wound,

softened the sky.

Remember Treblinka.

Remember Babi Yar.

 

Schubert on the radio: Litanei for departed souls,

that they may sleep in peace.

Remember Auschwitz.

Remember Me Lai.

 

At Tiverton, the river danced; water rolled and tumbled, flinging spindrift high,

a lone duck frolicked in the waves.

Tom Lehrer’s gravel voice: So long, Mom, I’m off to drop a bomb.

Remember the burden we carry; unslaked bloodlust, hate in our minds’ dark places, always waiting its chance.    

Remember Bergen-Belsen

 

At Enmore, a small child splashed in puddles, his face alight with joy.

Glimpsed through the window of the car, a couple walking in a field. The setting sun  blushed pink behind them as they stopped to kiss.

 

 

May the child, may the lovers, have frostlight, dancing water, sunsets, soft, cool healing mist.

May this grief not touch them, this burden pass them by.

 

May we not forget.