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.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

A complete stranger can have a great impact on us that bonds us to them for life, even if we never see them again... that is one of the miracles of humanity.

[Sweet_pale_cacophony]

You learn so much from all the people you encounter,your knowledge is immense..and then you come here and share it with us..we are only but humbled.Compassion is rare these days but you have it in you and that is what makes your writes so soothing to the mind.

[Truu Mdla]

I see the deep feeling that has been used in vain, not enough hope all is dead.

I really appreciate that you are following what once was missing,

Uriel

[THERISA]

A very strong and powerful poetic reminder of the hate and prejudices, we carry within ourselves. While not a victim of "The Holocaust", i know first hand, the hate and prejudice, that society can direct towards a minority. Their fear based justification for their hatred to the trans-community. "Never again" are words that must be engraved on everyone's heart and honoured with the respect that they deserve. Thank you, for this powerful reminder.

[Rose]

Kudos for correctly spelling it in german!! :)

[aching.insomniac]

whoa, very heavy. this brings out lots of emotion and thought. it makes me grateful to gentlemen like you both for reminding me to live, and be thankful.

[Saskia Liddick]

Saskia says:
That's strong, sad and strong. During my freshman year in highschool, we talked about the Holocaust and Hitler, and we all wondered how people could have joined a group like the Nazi's. We read the wave, we learned about the California Teacher's experiment. It scares me to think that something like that happened. I researched everything books and first hand experience could tell me, it still isn't enough. I would give to know just a little bit of what Jews had to go through. A wonderful poem that gets the mind reeling, you are very lucky to have met a true survivor of the hands of Hitler.
- Liefde, Saskia

[Sheila Kline]

This is a write that may evoke tears from the hardest of hearts! It is beautiful, touching and as Bud has said, it is truly a remarkable write that is also going in my favorite's file!
Thank you for sharing such a personal glimpse into your life..that of a 19 year old soldier!
Blessings to you my friend!!

[Bud]

And you have Wonderfully penned that lesson right here in this work. No words can honor this piece enough. But I am going to use Remarkable to start with. Then I am going to use Outstanding. While following with Magnificent. And explain that this is an Astonishing poem. I applaud you with a standing ovation. Bravo!!!