You’re as happy as can be

Nothing can go wrong

One day it happens, you can’t believe

Men in uniforms carrying guns shouted

“Leave behind your gold and jewels

Take nothing with you but food”

You think nothing else can go wrong

But the truth is everything has just begun

You’re loaded into wagons

There is no room to breathe

Where is God now you ask?

You don’t understand why this is happening

You can’t believe that your God is leaving

You feel he is standing by and watching

Do nothing to help you, he is just letting you die

You reach your destination

You’re separated from your family

Girls to the left, boys to the right

You see fire, you smell burning flesh

Men yell, “get undressed”

They stand and watch looking

For the weak and strong

You are taken into a barrack where you are given a shower

What did I do wrong?

As you are herded into the next barrack

Torn rags and shoes are tossed to you

The next barrack is the worst

The soldiers take needles and engrave in your arm

A letter and number

You have no name

Just a number

Your identity is lost, your hope is gone

There is nowhere to run

You’re stuck

You look up in the sky and see a butterfly flying free

You ask, why can’t that be me?

You are beaten badly, so badly you bleed

You see your family killed and you are all alone

A man comes up and holds you in his arms

Till the shaking is gone

Every time your eyes close, you see your family being killed by the guns

You are 16 and your innocence is lost

It was lost the moment you were shipped away

The SS men approach my new family and take away their food

Why are these people so harsh and rude?

So many innocent men and children are being killed by these heartless people

We are treated worse than animals

We barely get any food

If someone stops because they are tired

They are slaughtered

I saw a mother and baby killed

In my heart, anger and revenge slowly filled what was left inside

I wish more than anything to be free again

I saw a butterfly today and it flew right on by

I begged it to land and stay, but there are no butterflies where we are forced to stay

1995-96