Hier Gibt es Blaugeerren
        (Here there are blueberries)

Caption on photos of SS women auxiliaries
being served blueberries on a July 22, 1944
day trip to Solahutte, recreation center for
staff of Auschwitz-Birkenau, 18 miles away.

The women perch, like birds, along a deck rail.
"Mmmm, good," they mime, giggling as they
ham it up behind spoonfuls, some with mouths
agape, nestling style, while a demure civilian
accordionist pumps out Nordic folk tunes.

But it's not all fun in this photo-story, which turns
like a children's homily. In the last shot, the berries
are all eaten, shown by the women, who hold out
empty bowls. Some look wistful, others mock tears,
all having been such greedy little birds.

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Copyright © 2019 William Trowbridge All rights reserved
from Sugar House Review
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission