Never again. Nie wieder. Plus jamais.
Never again. Nie wieder. Plus jamais.
A Poem by Coyote Poetry

(A old man wanted to thank a American Soldier.)

Never again. Nie wieder. Plus jamais.
(The old man spoke with tears.
Told me it must never happen again.
He told me he watched his brothers and parent walk into death arms.
He could not do anything.)
I was sitting alone at the train station in Stuttgart.
A old man sits at my table and offered his hand.
I take it and ask what does he want?
He told on this day 33 years ago.
A American soldier broke down the wall of the concentration camp.
Pick him off the floor and held him.
The soldier hand fed him because he was too weak to feed himself.
The soldier took care of him for three months.
He was very weak and never ask the soldier name.
He wanted to thank an American.
By buying an American Soldier a meal today.
He showed me his mark.
A tattoo he held proudly.
Forced numbers put on men and woman showing they were Jews.
I told him please sit with me.
I would be honor to eat with him.
I listen to stories of good times and bad.
Tears came to his old eyes when he told me.
How they separate him from his family at the train station.
He never saw them again.
His family made the mistake of hoping for common sense and sanity.
Most of his family went to Auschwitz.
He never saw them again.
He was lucky being strong and young.
He went to work camps in Germany.
He lived in Switzerland now.
He learn to appreciate everyday being alive.
He whisper I still don’t understand the hate for us from the Germans.
I said very little.
I had great respect for this man.
He taught me what we can endure to stay alive.

His last words stays with me.
As he shook my hand.
His eyes filled with tears.
Tells me.
I pray everyday this Never again happens again.
Nie Wieder.
He left me sitting alone.
Thinking how hateful and cold this world can be.
Wow, this is just fantastic. Very, very stirring. Beautiful.
John Coyote, this brought tears to my eyes…unfortunately, there have been Genocides since the Jewish Holocaust…Idi Amin in Uganda in the 1970′s–the murder of many Bagandan people…Serbia & Kosovo…Iraq: Killing of the Kurds in the north…Rwanda Genocide…we still have not learned to love one another….too many tears…..too much suffering
It is good you wrote this poem—we have to continue to remind one another of our common bond of humanity
It is a sad world. Poor children pay for our hate and violence. Thank you for the comment and reading.
Stunningly beautiful!
Never again… let’s keep praying! Never again…
I pray for peace. Men speak of war and don’t remember. Their children and the enemy children will die for their desire to fight over a peaceful solution. It is very sad.
This is very touching and beautiful!
Thank you for sharing this with us. Soad was absolutly right, you are a very good writer indeed!
Thank you reading and stopping by. We need to learn from people who saw and lived through hard times. I met the man by chance. Good to listen to the elders.
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Very emotional… You did touch my heart… I’ve been to Stuttgart several times to visit with “old” friends, a mixed couple: he’s 1/2 German, 1/2 American & she’s Romanian(like me!), both wonderful people…
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It’s in Romanian and you may know Mr Cohen’s sad song:
http://incaunipocrit.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/the-holocaust-memorial-miami-beach-may-2012/
John – I have no idea how I missed this exquisite piece of work. I applaud you for your ability to bring in the sensibilities of both the old man and the young soldier. I so often see one side or the other of the story presented. You are skilled in presenting the emotional entanglement of both sides. Well done.
I’ve nominated you for the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award. If you’d like to participate you may pick up the award at: http://sheridegrom.wordpress.com/2013/04/-6/wonderful-team – or you may snag it from my post.
Great poem that speaks on many levels! I wish human beings could learn from poems such as these. History appears to be cyclic, with humanity never seeming to learn from what preceded. The Diary of Anne Frank was my first understanding of what happened in that dark time in history. An innocent girl whose life was taken because of her race. I wish I could say it never happened again, that human beings finally learned the cruelty of killing and hurting each other, but it is still happening today. Sad. Very sad.
Hard to believe after two world wars and so many conflicts. People are still fighting useless wars. Thank you for the comment.
thank you for your lovely comments on my blog, but thank you more for writing this poem, i have tears in my eyes…my father’s side of my family is missing many people and of course the descendants they would have had…
birds sing artblog
We cannot forget the Jews killed in the camps. Hitler’s killed at least 800,000 Gypsies also. This was support to be the last war. Thank you for your comment.
Man’s inhumanity to man. May it never happen again on such a large scale. Sadly, it’s still going on today.
The sad part. Had happen often since then. In Africa and Asia. Whole cities were destroyed. Hard to believe after WW2. War still had energy. I saw the WW2 graveyards. 20,000 plus crosses killed in one battle. Sometime I wonder is there hope for man? i worry for my kids and grandchildren. Thank you for the comment.
Seeing a huge event through the experiences of an individual makes it poignant and accessible. A moving poem for me.
I agree. I didn’t realize the effect this man would have on my thoughts. I would have try to talk with him longer. Some experiences make you realize what the world is really is. Not a nice place sometimes. Thank you for the comment.
A painfully beautiful piece…
I have read books about the holocaust and people’s narrations of their experiences in the camps… A terrible thing! I pray as the elderly man said “I pray everyday this Never again happens again”.
Thanks for a wonderful read!
Lovely poem John!
I’ve nominated your blog for One Lovely Blog Award. I’m honoured if you accept the award http://theworldofalexanderthegreat.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/one-lovely-blog-award-tell-me-about-yourself-award/
Thank you for the nomination. I do appreciate. Thank you for reading and the comment.
A beautifully written poem that captured me …
Thank you for reading. We can learn from people who lived through terrible situations.
Beautiful poem. Intended or not, it stands as a sincere testimony against the pessimism of its final line.
that piece moved my heart very deeply… it is a stunning metaphor that you have crafted and i am stunned by it…
but unlike the man whose words left you cold and hateful… your words have left me remembering generosity shown for no other reason that it is right and good to do so… and then finding that what you have given away was not payment enough for the gift you receive in return
ty for sharing those words of demonstrated mercy and of hope
Very powerful poem! You have a unique style.
Thank you for the comment and reading. I was told I write with the style of the writer’s of 2000 years ago. I was a epic writer. Told me to change my style. I told them. I’m too old to change.
Chills and speechless. Thanks for your poem. Is beautiful!!!
Thank you for reading. People who survived terrible situations can make us appreciate freedom and peace.
I agree 100%. With their experience they teach us to feel gratitude for our lives and be happy for what we have.
xoxo,
D.
Such a touching poem. Very powerful and evocative. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the like on my blog. I sincerely appreciate that
This poem moved me to tears. Your words are very raw and powerful and blunt. Very effective at delivering the message.
Real life can break our hearts. Today I see cities in the middle east I worked and travel in being destroyed. It seem we have learn nothing after so much war and violence. I pray and hope for better days. Thank you for the comment.
It seems that it is hard to overwrite what has been written into human nature for centuries. I, too, hope for better days and more peace and understanding between the people of the world. x
Powerful poem. Wow.
Wow, this has really moved me. I love the style and your writers voice is heart shattering. This is a beautiful composition.
Allow me to bless you with a similar story. Fellow poet, keep on releasing your heart to the page.
http://adopttheworld.blogspot.ca/2010/04/rudy.html
Thank you for the recommendation. The story was amazing. Thank you for reading my story. I do appreciate.
Thank you for being there for him.
I was very lucky to meet someone who survived the death camps. I wish more of them told their story. History need to be remembered. Thank you for the comment.
I agree with you. So many stories needed to be told – and heard.
A beautiful poem. I am writing President Obama today urging him and Netanyahu to seek peaceful negotiations with Iran because I believe the world needs more peace not another war. May I include your poem with my letter?
I would be honored. Need A Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter. Men who knew how to speak and aim at peace. Too much anger and threats. Need conversation and a handshake. I wish our leaders thought before they spoke. People in this world are tire of violence and war. Thank you for reading. I do appreciate. War take only from us. No-one will win.
I do agree:”Need A Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter.”
Thank you for sharing your beautiful poetry. I agree with you that our leaders need to think before they speak or act. They need to be reminded of how their actions affect all of us. I think your poem expresses that wonderfully. I look forward to reading more of your writing. Walk in beauty.
I knew I felt a connection with you when you wrote your first comment on my posts. This time in history particularly pulls me in. The holocaust was horrific. To choose anybody randomly b/c of what religion, skin colour, disability or sexual preference to round up and place in death camps. I have studied this part of history. Too many tyrants have been created throughout history. What happened in the US was also horrendous, the way Native Americans were slaughtered for just wanting to live on “their” land. What was done in the past and continues now, the prejudice for who one is, needs to be eliminated from people’s consciousness. We are all the same when you think of feelings and aspirations in life. Why then should anyone be singled out? Your poem moves me deeply and sets off inside of me an anger toward unjustified prejudices and the fact that those who are prejudice could care less that they feel the way they do and in some or most cases are proud of how they feel. It disgusts me. I know I have my own prejudices but I feel mine is toward those who are intolerant of others and not accepting everyone as having a right to freedom and acceptance with some exception and those are the people who are usually prosecuted: case in point abusers of children, animals and other people. But I feel these are not prejudices but rather justices done for protection. The others are a crime against society. Thank you John for your sensitivity. I can feel it in your words. J.K.
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If you need more info i will be posting about this later today (Wed 26th Sept). Congratulations xx
Beautiful and strong work – thank you very much.
So many death in WW2. Taught us very little. Thank you for the comment.
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“If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged.” – Noam Chomsky
Thanks for following one of my blogs.
Not all of them. Two president did their best to hold on to peace. One left too early and one left a balance budget and the world in a better place then when he started. Thank you for your comment.
bitter truths..a touching poem
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“His family made the mistake of hoping for common sense and sanity.” It’s a mistake that many of us make these days. Regrettably, there very little thing of either, especially common sense. Very good for to read.
We must never forget the atrocities commited by the Nazis and Stalinists!
I agree. I wished we learn a distaste fro war and death. WW2 killed more then 100 million people worldwide in the end. It is sad wars kept coming and people are still dying today where conversation could be the answer before death. Thank you for the comment.
I agree with you and narhvalur – this poem was so touching, it made me cry. I HATE anti-Sematism or any hate crimes. Thank You John for sharing. Also, I wanted to thank you for following my blog (sunshinefactor.wordpress.com). God bless!
Hi mate – nice work! My father’s unit liberated a prison camp at the end of WW2 although a lot of the inmates were too far gone to survive. He told me how he had to de-louse the people and the awful stench of death.
Great to make your acquaintance
Your father saw some terrible things. I met a man last week in the mall. He was close to ninety. He had WW2 hat on. He told me his unit open the camps up in Germany. He had tears in his eyes. It is sad we did not learn anything WW2. The wars kept on coming. Thank you for the comment.
I agree my friend – I always think that when folk say ‘Lest we forget’ and it’s obvious they haven’t learned the lessons.
Am glad to have connected with you
hi, hello, I’ve nominated you for The Sunshine Award, for the details visit my blog, thank you. have a good day!!!
I am honored to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award! Please pick-up your award at http://www.grandmothermusings.com . Copy and Paste the Award to your blog and follow the rules of acceptance. I wish you many blessings. Congratulations!!
Just to let you know I have nominated you for the “One Lovely Blog Award”, with thanks for bringing me so much joy through your blog. You can find the details about how to proceed with accepting it (if you choose to) at this link: http://janesindiajournals.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/with-joy-and-gratitude-one-lovely-blog-award/
with love light and JOY
Heavy. Never again. The tone of Frankl. The loss of innocence. Stylishly done, love it.
huh sad
but wonderfull !!!!
Great poem! We recently visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Of course we left very sad and couldn’t help asking, how can human beings be so cruel to others… It is important to remember and pass on to our children so we can try and stop this from happening again.
Thank you for clicking Follow at my site. Enjoyed reading your poems this morning.
I was station in Germany in 1976-1980. We will allowed to go to the Death camps. 30 years after the oven were turned off. Still could smell the burned hair. Scary part. We learn nothing after more then 40 million died in WW2. The support to be last war. Thank you for the comment.
Wow it’s a beautiful poem!
Thank you for the comment on my poem. If we listen. We can learn something new and useful daily.
Beautiful poem. My grandfather was on the shores of Normandy on D-Day. The war, the tragedies and the life’s lessons are already forgotten by the general population. Let us hope that somehow we can recall these memories and save ourselves from the destructive cycle.
Thank you for sharing!
I went to the WW2 graveyards. I took pictures. They were so large. I had to take many pictures to capture the 20,000 soldiers who died on Normandy and other battles during the long war. We can’t forget the cost of war. Many died for us to be free. Thank you for the comment.
hey there, i just nominated you for the wonderful team member readership award!
rules,etc are in my post.
Stunning, John. Living here in Germany makes it that much more poignant.
I was station in Germany from 1977-1980. I met the best people of my life. Germany is the same as all places. Had good and bad history. I’m Native American and live in a country that had a a law to kill all Native Americans in 1836. I wished like this man did. We would tire of war and violence one day. Thank you for the comment.
I lived in the US for 5 years, in Houston, TX(NASA-Area), I visited lots of places and I did understand the hard life of Native Americans…
Sooo unfair… and all the US-governments have continued to give lessons of freedom, democracy and human right to the rest of the world for decades… remember the ILLEGAL war in Iraq, all the bush gov lies & manipulations, etc… sad, pathetic, deadly!
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Stay healthy, my very best & good luck in all your endeavours…
We are paying for Bush’s lies today in the USA.. I hope for better days and leader with wisdom. I watched a TV show today. If 100 nuclear weapons are shot. The human race is done. The 100 nuclear weapon wherever set. Will destroy our world. I have children. Don’t people realize time for peace. Too many people with dangerous weapons.
Thank you for printing this. You must have some great experience.
Thanks for stopping by here and thank you for following, but I cannot compare to the work you do.
Peace!
Hello there Mr. Coyote, thank you for your like again =) I agree with your comment – the murder of millions has happened again in many places. Nice piece. It’s important never to forget, and to always think about those who are suffering; to remember to appreciate your life, always.
Very very strong. Particularly I love the sentence: “He taught me what we can endure to stay alive.” It is the other things we can learn, apart from that it shall never happen again.
I agree. But the murder of millions had happen in many places after. Thank you for the comment.
It’s amazing. I, unfortunately, live in country of Auschwitz and still can’t believe how something like this could have happened here….
Can’t forget history. WW2 was a terrible war. Whole world had to pay for hate of a few. Thank you for reading.
Another powerful piece of work – I like your style