A message to the children  

For Janusz Korczak,

Orphanage Director, Warsaw Ghetto

 

 

I cannot give you God

or a happy life

I cannot keep the truth from your gaze

but even as the pavements

weep beneath your feet

I can give you a longing for life

 

I can give you rhymes

and the comfort of my hand

I can give you pride

in the neat parting of your hair

before the final moment

when we take up our bags

I can give you courage to walk on.

 

Don’t ask me why tonight

just this once

no questions ‘til tomorrow

and when the morning comes

don’t look into the soldiers’ eyes

stare straight ahead

keep the flagpole steady

and we will reach the other side together.

   

Korczak's orphanage, Warsaw Ghetto Korczak's orphanage, Warsaw Ghetto
Memorial to Janusz Korczak Memorial to Janusz Korczak

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