Never Again 
Mitchell Grabois




I.


Israeli children are taken on field trips to death camps
so they will understand themselves and their nation



II.

When she held out her arm
to show her grandfather her new tattoo
identical to the one he was marked with
in Auschwitz
he gently took her hand, bent his head, and kissed the number
He had tears in his eyes
It became a mere blur

 
III.

He had his forearm tattooed
with his grandmother’s death camp number
His skin says: Never forget
His face says: There is no question: I will defend myself and my people
His chest and shoulders say: Strength