Heather Saunders reacts to a visit to Auschwitz organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust
We got off the buses around noon,
Marching in groups towards the entrance.
They checked us, made sure that we didn’t have anything
we weren’t supposed to.
And then we walked. Along a pathway with high concrete walls,
With names being spoken clearly, firmly. A reminder of tragedy.
We reach the sign, ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ – work sets you free.
Everyone shuffled slowly through, stopping to take pictures.
It was as though we forgot that,
Everybody who walked before us believed in this.
It was as though we forgot that they did not have the choice,
Of whether or not they could turn back, leave.
The site was tragically beautiful, it was almost
Difficult to envision a place full of such cruelty.
The cold embrace of Block 5 reminded us of the enormity of Death,
Block 27 reminded us of a peace one can find in Life.
There was guilt. It nibbled at corners of my thoughts:
“My feet hurt. The walk is long. I am cold”
Men, women, and children suffered, walking from one
End of Birkenau to the other.
Some had to survive this multiple times a day, many would only
Make one journey.
We all admired photographs of the innocent,
Those who suffered due to unwarranted hatred,
Those who had faith, culture, heritage,
Those who received love and had more to return.
Those who had lives to give, to continue, to create.
We went to educate ourselves,
We lit candles to commemorate them,
We held a silence to honour them,
I write for all to remember the Holocaust.
