By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Broken Tracks

No trains
arrive Gate 17    Grunewald Station

A red and white gate flung open
exposes splattered stones

Nameless platform
Of dates, places, numbers

Sorrow is a spike
that crumbles buildings

Sorrow is a spike
that extinguishes candles

Sorrow is a spike
splintering wood

Sorrow is a spike
that crushes flowers
liquidates
names
erases faces shoved down tracks

Sorrow is a spike that must be revisited
lest it bleed into rusting forest

Author Note:  I wrote and filmed this poem at a memorial located at the Grunewald train station (the Grunewald is near the famous Olympic Stadium where Jessie Owens played).

The memorial was built to remember the estimated 50,000 Berlin Jews who were sent to concentrations camps during WWII.    It is constructed on the actual train platform (Gate 17) the Nazi’s used to transport the Jews out of the city.

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Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).

Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)

• Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
• Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
• Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018