February 5, 2018

"Terezin Briefly" (short collection - Holocaust)

What follows are within thoughts thought and locked away – hidden feelings expressed by a friend on her visit to Prague and into the Camp called Terezin Memorial:

“Terezin Briefly”

cji
2/4/18

Nothing expected in my mind
vague thinking quite different
entering upon hallowed space
evil mortalities awful waste!

Now peaceful and restless
birds amid the sounds heard
strange and oft emptiness
Terezin briefly in darkness!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(Prologue:
cji
2/4/18
Back to the 18th Century
this small area of defense
bordering roads/rivers
where troops must pass
therefore a fortress built
able to be defended all
walls countering walls
built for protection only
so thought 160 years ago
now found a prison only
eliminating a race/culture
meant to house 7,000
now housing over 40,000
elderly Jews and children
projected as a Ghetto
seen a Concentration camp
how many died within
sent to be murdered away
sent to be murdered away!)
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(1)
“Breathing Within”
cji
2/4/18
None can capture a soul
for each is always free
subdued and restricted
still able to think express
silenced with a voice
creatively to endure
children with drawings
musicians with scores
playwrights with theater
artists with their paintings
breathing within walls
meant only to suffocate
for each is always free
none can capture a soul!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(2)
“Water, Water”
cji
2/4/18
Contaminated within camp
people getting sick/dying
those within the camp
prisoners found a way
Germans supplying parts
made a system to serve
not only the whole camp
with extra for cleansing!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(3)
“The Pool”
cji
2/4/18
Now with water clean
if not fully pure better
prisoners to build a pool
for families – children
not for them but guards
in the process 60 died
continuing the abuses
of those without rations
and without outside help
to build a fire station
have prisoners serve
police inside the ghetto
even to construction
making space for humans
40K+ into room for 7K!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(4)
“Muster”
cji
2/4/18
In the freezing cold
Muster was called for all
"Bohušovicer Kessel Census"
old friend from the past
hypothermia returns to claim
over 300 lives died today
amid the 40,000+ present
inducing further insult
insanely gone berserk
unrighteous dominion
exercised to fullest!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(5)
“Emotions”
cji
2/4/18
Almost without feelings
recording keeping records
day by day hour by hour
little shoe boxes filled
ashes now with names
sitting there repetitively
without emotions cold
while he was unmoved
tears surrendered oft
pounding my cheeks
within such distresses!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(6)
“The Children”
cji
2/4/18
15,000+ entrapped within
small children to under 16
some with their families
many watching friends
newly made taken away
of this massive number
between 93 and 150
survived to feel freedom
and thus the horrors
embraced living again!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(7)
“88,000 Shipped”
Cji
2/4/18
Known as a holding camp
doing its job very well
of the some 154,000
88,000 shipped away
to Auschwitz/Treblinka
their epitaph read DOA
from transport to chamber
others shot getting off
some specially marked
some men forced to watch
wives and children first
then they too were murdered!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(8)
“33,000”
cji
2/4/18
These died within Terezin
illness, depravations
hypothermia, bugs
diseases of all kinds
stress to was a cause
and then just before
with an end in sight
typhus epidemic came
finished work unfinished!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(9)
“Others”
cji
2/4/18
As a ghetto or camp
POW were not there
however they were
in violation of law
the Geneva Convention
therefore a war crime
others from Britain
New Zealand/Australia
as a punishment
reparations made
cost of blood/horror!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


(10)
“Too Much/So Much)
cji
2/4/18
With leaving much away
unable to comprehend
repetitive words express
meaningless wanderings
tears stain the paper
ink bowls emptying
invisible the feelings
too much/so much
left to embrace/expose
sleep is coming soon
so very soon too late!
Copyright © 2018 – cji


“Terezin, Briefly”
cji
2/4/18
(Epilogue:
Is there only black/white
scenes clearly etched
a child’s eyes to see
opening windows for me
inviting me within again
someone holding my hand
softness and comfort
feeling helpless to do
other than to hold hand
allowing never to do away
Terezin, briefly visited
within/without my spirit
embracing emotions
spent and helplessness
wherein now I sleep!)

Copyright © 2018 – cji


'Chuck' Charles J. Ingerson, CPCM, Fellow (NCMA)


Where one has been given a Testimony of Jesus Christ much has been given and we’ve two premises:

“Now this gives us two premises. On the one hand we are obligated and required to know the doctrines of the Church. We are to treasure up the words of eternal life. We are to reason as intelligently as we are able. We are to use every faculty and capacity with which we are endowed to proclaim the message of salvation and to make it intelligent to ourselves and to our Father’s other children. But after we have done that, and also in the process of doing it, we are obligated to bear testimony—to let the world know and our associate members of the Church know—that in our hearts, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit to our souls, we know of the truth and divinity of the work and of the doctrines that we teach. Bruce R. McConkie April 1973” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1973/04/upon-judeas-plains?lang=eng

“Father loves us dearly each day a new sunrise-sunset – with music and adornments – we can chose to love Him more dearly – but being obedient to Him always – or … what? To follow the world expecting what? Love teaches – trials and tribulations – so we too then teach of eternal life and the Gospel of His Only Begotten Son.” Cjingerson 12/31/17



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