THE DEATH CAMP

Whatever you did for one of the least of my brethren,
You did it for me.
Roll call at Auschwitz, a priest to the death pit is taken.
He steps into the place of a man condemned to death, to the guards a human fee.

I am reading the life of Witold Pilecki an Auschwitz escapee.
His mission to tell the world of the camp’s horrors.
Such courage, such self denial, for humanity such a plea.
Such sacrifice emerging from the mind’s darkest corners.

Is man intrinsically cruel.
How could people be tortured and killed merely for their race.
Never again we said, we will emerge from this dark pool.
What does it matter surely who you are or what is your birthplace.

But the World learns little or nothing.
Hate comes with every unwitting casual despising something.