THE DRESDEN ZOO By Robert Zaller

Schreitmüller's sculpture "Güte" ("Goodness") overlooks the destroyed city.

Perhaps the most catastrophic event ever - yet - due to strategic bombing of civilians...So many lessons staring all of us in the face and and striking the heart
as only poetry can do - let's heed!

Concerning February 13, 1945

The Dresden Zoo By Robert Zaller

The horses heard it first
the first shudder of earth
tensed the tasseled ankles
the first rush of air
shook the gilded manes
and suddenly they felt
the milky odor of fear
that emanated from the walls
the restless clangor of flagpoles
the weakening of the moon.
In the cobbles of the Altstadt
a thousand year fear was forming
the fear called Holocaust
the fear called Judgement
fear leaped in blue sparks
from telephones
fear gripped the knives
in their cupboards
and the sweat that drenched the angel
of Dresden Cathedral
broke from the flanks of the horses.
Only the sirens were silent
only those-to-die of Dresden
heard nothing
until the trumpet of fear
sounded from the blind throat
and gave the city its voice.

A parliament of fires
caped the city
in one gathered breath
mounting the stair
curling into the kitchens
snuffingthe small frenzy
of breath in the cellar.
Women mad with gaiety
shed dung in the fountains
clowns and donkeys
vied for the trapeze
and wild mares, terror--
sleeked, drank the black heat
that burst their lungs.
The city disrobed
to put on new garments.
All of silk and silver must shed,
all of copper, of brass

all of duralex, isinglass, amnganese, stone
all bars, angles, scabbards, grids
all terminated geometries

Robert Zaller, 1999

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Be sure to also read Zaller's new prose warning - just out today. And be sure to view the video with link below it - a recent public reading of this poem.

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For a passionate piece on this historical event:
here