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Holocaust hymn
As we remember holocaust,
in horror disbelieving
the history of the human race,
we share each other’s grieving;
God purge us of hypocrisy,
of all our self–deceiving.
Our language is inadequate,
unfit for the expression
of hatred that we visualise,
humanity’s confession;
we hurry headlong into hell,
we witness love’s regression.
The deepest, distant agony
that throbs through all creation,
the silent tears that quietly fall
in every generation,
are signs of our humanity,
our need for re–creation.
God give us strength to make a pledge
to move beyond contention,
to see, in each, humanity.
Through greater good intention,
God, move us toward a purer love,
a gracious intervention.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) © 2003 Stainer & Bell Ltd
No tune has been suggested for this hymn – if you know one please post.
Birchenau – Holocaust

Holocaust
The silence…
palpable
tourists alight…
silence deafens,
like Buddhists, walking, shedding no footfall,
slipper footed it seemed.
The air was light,
the breeze slight,
yet every heart was heavy.
Rows of sheds…
empty.
Tiers of planks named ‘bed’ where bodies had lain:
Nameless.
Objects of a crude economy,
measured and managed,
pulled,
pushed,
directed.
Objects transported to where we were standing.
No looking back.
The end of the line.
The silence…palpable…
We left…
silence…
never more
in peace
For Holocaust Sunday 27th January 2019 © Andrew Pratt
