"Niggers" of Poland

We were the niggers of Poland
pearl skin hiding hearts
dark and squalid --
the ovens charred us clean.

The ovens charred us clean,
women, children
frantic, freezing
flailing after breathing.

Frantic, freezing,
thrusting children up as though
to heaven not a ceiling
alien air heaving.

Thrusting children up, then
collapsed, sprawled:
extinguished families of night
sleeping swastikas all.

Julianza Shavin