Not Forgotten Or Passed Over Poem by gershon hepner

Not forgotten or past over, though
the numbers simply can’t be comprehended,
which is the reason why we tend to know
far more about the way that Anne’s life ended
than of the way six million died, with smoke
of harmful fires drifting from our eyes,
unseen except within the minds that choke.
How sad that when a single person dies,
by hate and senseless prejudice bereaved,
we say, “This must not happen, ” but pass over
the victims of mass murder, debriefed
by those who claim to understand Jehovah.

Inspired by September Song, by Geoffrey Hill

Undesirable you may have been, untouchable
you were not. Not forgotten
or passed over at the proper time.

As estimated, you died. Things marched,
sufficient, to that end.
Just so much Zyklon and leather, patented
terror, so many routine cries.

(I have made
an elegy for myself it
is true)

September fattens on vines. Roses
flake from the wall. The smoke
of harmless fires drifts to my eyes.

This is plenty. This is more than enough.

Note: born 19.6.32 - deported 24.9.42

8/18/08