Monk in Auschwitz 8
Hoess and Himmler
At the same time as Hoess and Himmler
Were squinting in through peepholes
At naked women gasping, and then
Stood there chuckling
After gas had started hissing softy
From tiny openings inside the chamber,
Thomas was looking out a window
And saw a bird
With one bloated eye
And a broken wing
Staring in at him,
Forcing him fix his eyes on it
Without shrinking.
From then on he felt himself
Bearing the marks
Of that wounded creature.
And stigmatized now,
He knew the Christ
Whose marks
From that moment on
He bore.
Hoess and Himmler
At the same time as Hoess and Himmler
Were squinting in through peepholes
At naked women gasping, and then
Stood there chuckling
After gas had started hissing softy
From tiny openings inside the chamber,
Thomas was looking out a window
And saw a bird
With one bloated eye
And a broken wing
Staring in at him,
Forcing him fix his eyes on it
Without shrinking.
From then on he felt himself
Bearing the marks
Of that wounded creature.
And stigmatized now,
He knew the Christ
Whose marks
From that moment on
He bore.