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.

[trainwreck]

That was an amazing poem! Great job yet again Coyote. Please never change your style, unless it naturally grows, because you are a breath of fresh air.

[Kelsie Eileen Stark]

This is beautiful. It has a vibe that would never die, no matter how many times it is read through the eyes of young or old. It is very thought provoking. But, it is something to never be forgotten. An experiance like this.
Thank you for sharing.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

This brought tears to my eyes, we all need to be friends, Jews, blacks, whites, indians ect.. I'm with your friend this world can be full of hate when it needs to be full of love! Well written!

[joshua deathdealer]

This is outstanding. Very powerful write. It really came to life before my eyes and I felt as if I was there. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Vaishali..^_^]

awesome..:) I loved it.. :)
great work..
Thanks for sharing..^_^

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Wonderful..!!!

[The Analog Kid]

This must have left a hell of an impression on you especially at 19. You pay tribute to a poweful story from your past. Thank you.

[Blessed_Angel]

oh wow i never read anything like this it is very inspiring. It made me think how cruel the world is. Most deaths to people is not nature but our own kind. Our own kind that is really sad. We are the only species that kills each other just because we can do it. It is sad on what this man had to go through. My respect lies with all who had to go through that.

[Renee]

This is such a powerful and emotional piece. Wow.

[Aidz]

Powerful stuff mate...........