Family Album
My father stands in the picture
with his parents, brothers and sisters
the gas and the cattle-cars
are still two years away, they smile
not knowing this is the last time
they will be gathered happilly together
that nothing guards their world
that sky will be all that remains
Their eyes rest peacefully
on one another and on the camera
and tomorrow winds its arms
and twists tighter around their necks
yet it is still to early
to see the black boots coming;
smoke floats carelessly from a cigarette
and children go to summercamp
We see them - not yet lost,
standing on the precipice of wind and fire
their image of vanished innocence
captured and in our memory engraved
still they stand, unsuspecting,
composed, like any other family
while their black and white world rushes forward...
it is already on the last page.