We were children like the others
We played
We laughed
We ran

One day, they came
and dragged us
screaming
away from our parents
away from our home
away from our community

They shoved us
in a train car
with thousands of other
Jews
They left us there
for weeks
no food
no water

When the wheels
screeched to a stop
the guards yelled
‘Everyone out’
as they pointed
at us
with their guns

We trudged
through the freezing snow
in a line
until we got to the doctor
who chose whether we
lived or died

All that mattered was a single point of his hand
left to die
right to live
to the gas chambers
or the labor
I slowly make my way
to the front
he gives me a once over
and slowly raises his hand
I don’t move
I am in shock
A guard
grabs me and
shoves me
to
the
left

We walk
and walk
until we are standing in front
of the eternal burning fires
of
Hell