The Butterfly

The last, the very last,

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.

Perhaps if the sun's tears would sing

against a white stone. . . .

Such, such a yellow

Is carried lightly 'way up high.

It went away I'm sure because it wished to

kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I've lived in here,

Penned up inside this ghetto.

But I have found what I love here.

The dandelions call to me

And the white chestnut branches in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.

Butterflies don't live in here,

in the ghetto.

I wanted to share something special that I have been doing on this trip....every time I visit a concentration camp, I place a butterfly that was made by a child in Charlotte (as part of the JCC Butterfly Project), at the camp memorial.  I also update my butterfly with the name of the camp.  Here are the pictures that I have collected so far...

More information about the Butterfly Project:

http://www.charlottejcc.org/webpage-directory/butterfly-project/butterfly-project-participation/

Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Ravensbruck Concentration Camp

Auschwitz/Birkenau Concentration Camp

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp

Cattle Car at Auschwitz-Birkenau

 

  

Terezin

Terezin

Butterfly at Terezin

Butterfly at Birkenau

Butterfly at Majdanek

Butterfly at Treblinka

Treblinka

Treblinka