They robbed us entirely: Of clothing, of our only shirt, And deprived us of the right to our own body, Had dominated everything.
Emaciated, blue from torture We stood as helpless flock In a large hall, Like animals behind bars Put on show.
Like a symbol of total misery The shorn heads hang heavy, The thoughts whirl around, Black, sleepy, wasted away, Wings wounded,
The glance, beaten down, Sees only how the legs On the wretched path Venture into the new abode, Confined as a net.
The legs, bodies and breasts Burn with useless shame, Laughter, brutal and infamous, Assessing with every gesture That which was once yours.
This show – ha, how unfortunate Not to have seen it, my honor’s saviour! Bare and trembling Do you recognize me? I give you not my hand For it is mine no more.
For the stolen belongings They give us a dark linen dress. Poor and full of sorrow, With a face frozen to a mask I leave with the crowd.
Should you set eyes on me, You shall not recognize me, for I’ve changed so much Like a fallen star, Like a pounded stone, That feels nothing.
