Before They Left: From A Video In Isaac Temple In Cracow, Poland Poem by Glen Kappy
Before They Left: From A Video In Isaac Temple In Cracow, Poland
In grainy black and white
we first see men in hats and beards—
their look conservative.
Then scenes of energy—
belongings brought
by horse carts, hand carts
prams or backs
to take upon the train.
We know to where they're going
but we watch as they seem heedless
as they're boarded to their deaths.
What thoughts among the crowd
besides the wondering?
Tomorrow's zloty? Next month's rent?
To simply grasp a mother's hand?
Or noticing that someone needs a bath?
We know to where they're going—
the benefit of time gone by—
but what of us to future eyes?
Auschwitz continues to be the darkest dot in human history and the tale of cruelty enacted upon the site continues to shudder and terrify human conscience! A heart felt write that leaves a great impact on the readers!
Hi, Valsa! As I write I’m sitting up in bed in the house of friends in Lancaster, PA. We’re on vacation and here for my wife to look into history of her ancestors. We spent the first week in New York City where I’m from, and a memorable visit there was to a beautifully restored synagogue my father’s parents likely worshiped. Hoping you’re well, Glen
We know to where they're going but we watch as they seem heedless as they're boarded to their deaths..................... Like cattle led to a slaughter house are ignorant of the fate awaiting them, these men who were led to the concentration camp were ignorant that every step they took was to the dreadful end awaiting them!
An extraordinary setting for this so very compassionate poem- the black-and-white- film strip from that day so many years ago as the stage to review history in a present-day kind of experience. Great idea. Great write. Such a horrifying age in the history of mankind but it is still being repeated against many different peoples in many different countries..
Hi, Susan! Thank you for reading this poem and your positive comments. My wife and I are vacationing on the east coast. I’m in an Airbandb as I write. Yesterday in a crowd moving to board the Staten Island ferry I thought of this scene again. Be well. -Glen
- - - - - - - -The scenes made in video or film of holocaust is always painful to watch.It evokes the same horror and inhumanity of the period when Jews were boarded in trains to concentration camp where they were to die in gas chambers. But after watching such a film what thoughts preoccupy a viewer after so many years of that event, when time has changed and people have changed.Perhaps we are worried about our daily business ! !
hi, bharati! hope this finds you at peace and well. thank you for reading this poem and your detailed comments. from jewish background myself, my experience in cracow then later at auschwitz moved me at a deep level. before we went to these places in southern poland, we visited synagogues in prague. one, not used for worship now, has on its walls in red the names of all the jews taken. that too moved me deeply. -glen
We know to where they're going but we watch as they seem heedless as they're boarded to their deaths. What thoughts among the crowd besides the wondering? Tomorrow's zloty? Next month's rent? To simply grasp a mother's hand? Or noticing that someone needs a bath? (contd.) - - - - - - - -
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/5/2024 8:02:44 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Then scenes of energy are brought up ahead with much care and through change. Old time has changed through technological process with development. This poem is definitely very brilliantly penned that reflects human condition in a film...10
once again, kumarmani, thank you for reading a poem of mine and commenting on it. like jet-lagged (which i just posted changes to) , this poem is a reworking of a rough draft on a pad my wife turned up while preparing for our next vacation. -glen