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I take your medal out of the treasure box every once in a while

nestled in between hair locks baby shoes and sepia photographs

it portrays a powerful image of glory success victory and loss

and reminds me of ambiguities effort strength youth and deception


Mom you won the laurels as a young German diving champion

summersaulting from the high platform of contest and stealth

your only fault was that of living under Nazi rule and contempt

for equality diversity human rights minorities and ethical laws


But you were still a child in age and at heart innocent and naive

jumped into the waters of  body and mind as a juvenile protege 

The Allies wanted to confiscate the reward under Denazification

eager to erase evil from history books and the lure in admonition


Your father pleaded to let you keep what was yours to cherish

earned without ideological stride but competitive dedication

and the American officer relented took the badge to a goldsmith

to return it once the Svastika had been erased from the trophy


When I look at the accolade today I see proud eyes and sadness

dust it off at regular intervals and remind myself that all politics

are personal and it’s rightly impossible to escape the verdict of  time

but my love for you has never faded as you rest in heaven and weep



9th March 2021

My Mom was thirteen when she received the medal

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