Broken sonnets – 2

Deitrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer opposed Hitler’s euthanasia program and the persecution of the Jews. He was hanged towards the end of the war in 1945. His statue stands above the main door of Westminster Abbey.

Above Westminster's Door

Above Westminster’s door look deep into his eyes

And see…

Are you buried there in Flossenbürg?

Shovelled in with other rotting corpses

The Allies found when they broke through?

Or are you in the mound of ashes

Raked up into a pyramid of clinker and charred bones

Ground up so that no-one will remember

Turning memories to dust?

The doctor, damned beyond redemption,

Half-revived you when you were hanged,

Seeking to prolong your suffering at death.

Where you lie we cannot tell.

So…the next time we pass,

We’ll look deep into your eyes

Above Westminster’s door.