Upwind from the chimneys
blue sky hung like a promise
in the air.
Bronia, Guta, Giza,
Fania, and I
held hands in the unexpected
sunshine.
It was easy to remember
the way life used to be—
the way life should be—
the way life could be—
Again.
I lifted my hand to the sky
toward the horizon.
Spring fluttered
warm and gentle
through my fingers
radiating to the others
a wave of hope
a current of belief
that this would not go on
forever.
holding hands
walked past us
toward the
shadow of the chimneys.
On the beautiful blue-sky day
when hope hung like
cotton-ball clouds
one girl lifted her hand to the fence
toward the signs that warned
ACHTUNG! LEBENSGEFAHR!
Death rippled
through her fingers
radiated to the others.
A wave.
A current.
The end.