Numbers to rule the smallest details of our lives. 32 buildings, 1000- 15 and 16 year old girls in one place, Shelves stacked 3 high to the ceiling, 10 bodies per shelf. Sleep impossible, 4:00 a.m. roll call, 5:00 a.m. standing as still as death, 5 girls per row 60 minutes by 60 minutes by 60 minutes ad infinitum in line Day in, day out Stand Stand Drop What did I know of life, much less death ? Until Selection IV- Second Encounter Smokestacks churning out clouds of The newly arrived, The old and worn out, The young and useless, The vacant ones with the hollow stares, The ones in the wrong place at the wrong time Me. A Selection 2000 at a time, Undress, Wait huddled together on the cold gray benches, 1000 herded to the showers. My turn next. My Second Angel, The Air Raid Siren. Saved for another day. Still what did I know of life Much less death? Until Guben.
Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine #1
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