Gershon Wolf Poet Free verse

Never Again, Never Again

~ For International Holocaust Day ~
        

      Never again, we vowed
        when Auschwitz was liberated
      When images of human skeletons
        flickered across our screens

      Four months later, Never again
        Hiroshima and Nagasaki
      Mushroom clouds shielding
        Civilians screaming, burnt alive

      Never again, we vowed
         then betrayed South Vietnam
      the Viet Cong slaughtering
         all those left behind

      Never again? Never again?
        We fled Iraq and Afghanistan
      Allies to the butcher's knife abandoned
        ~ Never again we mutter, Never again

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Lindsay Laurie February 3, 2022 at 2:53 PM Hello Gershon ... and now the war drums are beating on the Ukraine-Russian border and with battlefields having no fences Europe may lose that 'Never again' belief - thank you Gershon - Lindsay Gershon Wolf February 3, 2022 at 6:42 PM Europe's in deep doo-doo, I'd say, Lindsay. Thanks, gw

Valsa George January 30, 2022 at 6:08 PM We keep repeating that there shall be no more blood shed and massacre, but we keep doing it through the years, everywhere in the world... ! Man never learns anything from the past and at heart, he enjoys mayhem! Great pointer to the dark spots of History Gershon Wolf February 3, 2022 at 6:41 PM Astute comment, Valsa: 'At heart, man enjoys mayhem!' Can't agree with you more... Indicative of that in America is that American football (ugh!) is by far this nation's most popular sport. Fans love the violence of grown men hitting each other as hard as they can... And so it goes.. ~ Gershon

M. L. Kiser January 30, 2022 at 5:00 PM Indeed, we can never allow that to happen again; well penned and a heartbreaking reminder. Gershon Wolf February 3, 2022 at 6:38 PM Thank you for the encouragement, M.L. :) gw

Terry Flood January 30, 2022 at 3:19 PM Not a word out of place in your sadly accurate write, Gershon. Terry Gershon Wolf February 3, 2022 at 6:32 PM Thanks, Terry. I realize that my words must be like my hair, as not a hair on my head is out of place either. ~ Bald R. Dash

Ronald D Thompson January 30, 2022 at 2:42 PM So true Gershon. History repeating itself, we never seem to learn. Such a well written, meaningful piece my friend...Ron Gershon Wolf February 3, 2022 at 6:30 PM Seems that by the time we finally understand the lessons of history, we're too tuckered out to do much other than write poetry, eh?! :) gw

Kim Rodrigues January 30, 2022 at 11:48 AM Truly frightening…lies are told - never again. Many want to believe it when they say it but the problem is wickedness exists. I just read the account written by Margit Buchhalter Feldman of her holocaust experience. We must remember for those who suffered. One day there will truly be a “never again” ((tears)) Kim Rodrigues January 30, 2022 at 3:52 PM I appreciate the insight, dear friend Gershon Wolf January 30, 2022 at 12:28 PM Yes, you are right: Lies are told... An unpleasant truth for the world to hear, but Jews have stuck to their guns on 'Never Again:' The State of Israel has done and will do whatever it takes to ensure that Jews by the millions will not die again. Israel will even take down a soon-to-be nuclear Iran by itself if need be. Israel's P.M. will simply not inform Biden and the rest of the appeasement crowd beforehand. And when Iran is vanquished, the world will thank Israel under its breath -- as they did in 1982 when Israel took out Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor... And so it goes...

Jennifer Proxenos January 30, 2022 at 8:15 AM Man is brutal, the majority are forced to fight in the army, navy or air force during any war but then we have civil war where we have brother against father and father against son, then we have serial killers, gangs, ethnic groups fighting, terrorists, we say never again, never again but it is like we talk to deaf ears. But you are completely right we do say never again, but History does repeat itself. Great write Gershon. Hugs, blessings, Jennifer. Gershon Wolf January 30, 2022 at 9:26 AM Thanks for your support on this one, Jennifer. And yes, YOU and I are absolutely right about the hypocrisy of 'Never Again.' Moreover, this is what happens when man relies on his 'power of reason' (what a joke!), as opposed to 'In God we trust.' Thanks again. Blessings and Bounty, Gershon