Zone of Interest
This is a piece which first appeared here in 2018. With the film Zone of Interest released this week, it seems appropriate to reprint it
He pushed the door quietly
and tiptoed towards the boy
He was immersed in Grimm
and never heard daddy come in
In one quick move
he wrapped his hands
round the boy’s eyes
for a game of surprise.
It’s you papa, I know it’s you
gushed out the little boy
squealing with delight
papa, you gave me such a fright.
He gave the boy his bath
and after they said grace
and had partaken of a tasty spread
he helped mutti put the boy to bed.
He read him some more Grimm
and the boy was in hysterics
because Papa had a choice
of so many funny voices.
Don’t get him over-excited, liebling
she said, or he’ll never go to sleep.
You’re the apple of his eye
to him mein papa is nonpareil
Later they sat on the balcony
watching what was left of the smoke
rising in the sky in its upward flight
on that bright starry Auschwitz night
Drinking vsop Cognac
and smoking English cigarettes
eating best French Camembert
while listening to Franz Schubert
You look careworn tonight dear heart
she observed, you must have had an awful day?
You can say that again liebling
how I wish I was unfeeling
The filthy Yid raised his eyes
and brazenly looked at me
Hatred I verily do not mind
But to defiance I can’t be blind
You see liebling, I had no choice
when you see a worm you crush it
I took my Luger and shot him dead
A bullet in his filthy Jewish head
