The Case of Otto Schwarzkopf

The case of Otto Schwarzkopf
Has reached Jerusalem
The letters "A L L l" branded in black
Are burned into the leather and there's
A Prague address
A faded hotel sticker on the back

Which shows the Tyrol
Prayer all draped with snow
Blue skies,  pine trees, a lake
Were you alone? Was this a family outing?
Did you read or did you
Swim on this life-affirming break?
Did you climb or simply
Walk below the mountain?

The case gapes open wide
It's emptiness a soundless cry
We pause to gaze at it, at you, through time
Where nowhe socks, the toothbrush
The shirts and underwear, the family snaps
The works of Heinrich Heine

In winter nineteen forty-four the
German order came
Take what you think you'll need
You're moving East
And don't make any fuss just
Leave everything to us
Twenty kilos or just one suitcase each

And now it's here on show
It's palm-warmed handle cold
The leather cracked
It's metal clasps corroded
As the steam train pulled away
From Theresienstadt that day
Did it rain or did you weep as it was loaded?

Reference to your trip:
Stroke "A L L 1" Stroke
Cattle trucks as per specification

The livestock rule allows thirty
Pigs or seven cows one hundred and twenty
Jews for transportation

The case of Otto Schwarzkopf has
Made it's way without him
To Jerusalem in anger, guilt and sorrow
Pray humanity can hear what it
Cannot see through tears
The cry of yesterday before tomorrow