Out of some dodge of fate

What was to be my family
reached the American shore
a quarter century before
my mother bore me
and the Nazis stole the law

So I am alive some sixty years later
having avoided war and other maladies
but not avoiding guilt
my children adults now
spared the uniform of combat
or the Star of certain death

Two strands cabled across the sea
entangled on the mainland
and woven into me
who takes some ease
in knowing what he missed
but with remorse’s twist
for the million children
who missed the boat

Out of some dodge of fate
I speak today
the missing voices
roaring in my wake

9/25/95, 2/10/98. 7/1/08

Copyright 1995, 2008 by Maurice Leiter

Posted with permission.