The girl replied,
They are no more monster
than you.
My brother
was selected
for the Sonderkommando
when we first arrived.
I used to meet him
here at the fence
so he could unburden
his soul.
Yes,
he helped the Germans.
He led people,
innocent people
children,
to their deaths.
He whispered
assurances to them.
Calmed them
so their last moments
were not filled with terror.
with respect
due to humans.
He said Kaddish for them
mourned them.
His first assignment
fresh off the transport
was to gas
the Sonderkommando
he replaced.
His last assignment
just three months later
was to walk
with dignity
into the gas chamber
so the new Sonderkommando
could replace him.
The Sonderkommando
are not monsters.