Dachau

Holding a pistol in a prisoner’s mouth
Seems an ordinary, even daily, event.
But this one is special.

A spring day. In the photograph
Two soldiers chat in the background.
There are signs of new leaves
On the forsaken solitary birch,
Visible behind the officers cap.

Dachau a small town.
A half-hour from Munich,
Chose to remain unaware
Of the purpose of the concentration camp
That sits on its northern boundary.

Villagers would not care to know
That the prisoner, wearing a gray stripped
Jacket and pants, will, in death,
Emblemize the need for Germany
To economize, helping the “war” effort.

Being Saturday, the commandant reflects
On tomorrows, day-off.
His wife insisted on a picnic
Away from the sounds, sights, and smells.

Luther and Jonathan, ages 6 and 9
Will surely love the outing.
They get to run, have treats at the confectionery
And spread the blanket
That will be home for 2 hours.

“Come”, he reminds himself of the task at hand.
The prisoner facing him has a yellow star poorly sewn
To his jacket at chest height.
Like the other prisoner he is hairless.

We see only the right side of the second prisoner.
He could be Jewish, Catholic, gay or just a business man.
Whose home was needed to aid the Fuehrer.

One suspects these 2 prisoners were selected randomly,
Except for their similar height.
Tied back to back, they can both be killed with a single bullet.
All small scale executions done this way,
Would lower the waste of needed ammunition,
And greatly assist the Fatherland.