Ashen Psalms

Chimney’s spew their smoke and stench of burning flesh,

air thick in their haze behind the barbed wire fences,

machine gun towers at corners of concentration camp

though the boney ashen prisoners are too weak to escape,

another line of suffering souls is marched to gas chamber

their hallow eyes sensing those masked showers will mean death this time,

Nazi commander watches from office, holding a bible and praying for victory.