Jack Webster Poet I do not know?

Last Train To Auschwitz Contest

Ashes to Ashes

Smoke
rises in the distance.

The boxcar
rocks,
rocks,
rocks;
stones
are placed along the ties.
Were they placed by Chance
or left 
as gently as Kaddish.
I lift my hands in the darkness;
the light of the knothole 
lights the tips of my fingers like Shabbat candles,
and I cover my eyes.

I can smell them,

the names 
put in the furnace.

Silence screams out of the smoke stacks
as vowels burn away
as consonants try to escape the fire, flee
up the concrete throat and out
into the sky

escaping the camp disguised in grey coats of ash,
at last,

as winter covers the mirrors 
of the lakes with ice.

Contest: Last Train to Auschwitz
Sponsor: Kai Michael Neumann

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Joe Maverick February 13, 2022 at 10:02 AM So hard, such brittle experiences were part Of people's reality.. One woman sent there Wondered who owned the place did they know Of the use it was put to.? Were they unwitting Good or bad, when she was liberated after Years, she was contacted to claim her property Yes she was the inheritor.' I tend to stay away From this type of theme Jack, however a worthy piece'

David Drowley August 18, 2021 at 2:35 PM First boxcar or last, you captured the terror perfectly. Congratulations!

Cindy Collins July 12, 2021 at 6:08 PM nice impact. I liked especially changing perspective from the knothole and light on fingers to the chimney and sky with grey figures; also liked the tangible consonants and vowels for something so ethereal. most impactful: the escape and the mirror of the lake, telling the truth.

Sara Kendrick June 21, 2021 at 6:59 AM Congrats on your winner in this very descriptive, expressive and creative work. I enjoyed reading a very real description of the event. It is almost like you had been there. I am honored to place in your contest. Thank your for reading and finding my poem worthy of honor in your list. Sara

Andrea Dietrich May 17, 2021 at 2:48 PM wow, what a powerful poem. Belated Congrats if it got a win. It was sure deserving.

Regina Mcintosh May 8, 2021 at 5:57 AM So sad... God bless you always.. I left you a Soupmail if you might respond please :) Love, Gina

Constance La France May 7, 2021 at 9:17 AM Jack, what an emotional write and congratulations on your win in the contest, I wrote one too but it did not place however, I am very proud of it, it is called The 'Last' Train, peace _Constance

Eve Roper May 6, 2021 at 10:58 PM Well said, Jack, deep emotions felt. Congratulations on your win. Hugs Eve

Quoth Theraven May 6, 2021 at 8:18 AM Jack, Liked those stones. Indescribable / adjective / too unusual, extreme, or indefinite to be adequately described. Is there any healing from such evil that'll ever be encapsulated in a poem? Doubtful one will ever suffice. But forgetting altogether would be a true crime. -Richard

Anne-Lise Andresen May 6, 2021 at 6:51 AM -"Silence screams out of the smoke stacks" ... gives me chills, Jack -Congratulations on your great win in this contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Juliet Ligon May 5, 2021 at 2:54 PM Such an interesting way of describing the pieces of a person and I like the Jewish touch you gave. This is a fav for me. Congratulations!

Ilene Bauer April 22, 2021 at 2:06 PM jack - you have written a very touching and powerful poem about a subject it is not easy to write about. i hope this is at the top of the list of contest winners... Jack Webster April 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Thank you so much, Ilene.