In Vienna’s heart, a tragic tale unfolds,
A chapter etched in history’s pages, untold.
Amidst the grandeur of its streets so fair,
Lies a sorrowful past, a burden to bear.
Once a hub of culture, vibrant and alive,
Vienna, oh Vienna, where did your innocence thrive?
But dark clouds gathered, casting shadows deep,
As the Holocaust’s horrors took their grievous leap.
Innocent lives, like fragile flowers, were crushed,
By the hands of hatred, humanity was hushed.
Synagogues stood tall, symbols of faith,
Yet, flames devoured them, leaving only a wraith.
Kristallnacht’s echoes, a night of shattered glass,
Ravaged homes and dreams, leaving hearts aghast.
Tears mingled with the Danube’s gentle flow,
As sorrow seeped into every corner, every glow.
The Jewish community, once thriving and strong,
Now silenced, dispersed, their voices gone.
Families torn apart, their bonds severed,
Lost in the abyss of a world unweathered.
But from the depths of darkness, hope did rise,
Resilient spirits, determined to defy demise.
Vienna, you healed, step by painful step,
Acknowledging the wounds, refusing to forget.
Today, monuments stand, whispering their tale,
A testament to those who fought and did not fail.
In Mauthausen’s haunting camp, the truth resides,
Reminding us to honor those who died.
Vienna’s Holocaust history, a solemn reminder,
Of the consequences when humanity turns blind,
Let us learn, let us remember, and vow,
To ensure such darkness ne’er again shall grow.
For Vienna, you’ve transformed, a city reborn,
A beacon of unity, a testament to scorned.
In your streets, a tapestry of cultures unite,
Celebrating diversity, love’s guiding light.
May your history serve as a guiding flame,
A testament of resilience, eternally the same.
Vienna, embrace your past, for it shapes your soul,
And let compassion and understanding forever unfold.