Holiday
Excerpt from the Book of Collected Holocaust Poetry, Unworthy Lives, Published 2004, Pages 55-56
Also Published as a Single Poem in Ripples, 2007 Edition
Copyright © 1998, 2007
Jason Lester Atkins
985 Fleet Drive, #347
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
All Rights Reserved.
The soldiers come on Sabbath,
the last day of the year,
inviting hovering death angels to settle on our shed,
like white winged floating birds waiting for the dead:
Sisters promise us a holiday,
celebrating happy St. Nickolaus day,
dressing us in Sunday's best: our very last to be:
Dressing Maria in pink brocade:
Her doll is dressed to match:
My doll is dressed in blue:
I wear my birthday watch Mama mailed to me:
Housemother paints black numbers
on each child's tiny arm,
knowing we are lost to the coming storm:
She passes out sweet tarts,
out first treats of the day,
gathering us in chapel in kneeling groups to pray:
Boy's first bus left at seven:
Girl's first bus leaves at one:
My bus leaves at three ...
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