Never Shall I Forget

Never shall I forget that night,

the first night in the camp

which has turned my life into one long night,

seven times cursed and seven times sealed.

Never shall i forget that smoke.

Never shall I forget the little faces of the children

whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke

beneath a silent blue sky.

Never shall I forget those flames

which consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence

which deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments

which murdered my God and my soul

and turned my dreams to dust.

Never shall I forget these things,

even if I am condemned to live

as long as God Himself.

Never.

-Eli Wiesel