I watched the bird fly across the fence,

It came back with a twig in its beak,

Lay it on a thick branch of a tree

And flew off again, fearless and free

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence

Saw it nibble at some grass,

It came back again with something soft

And placed it in the nest aloft

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

Do the same thing again and again

And I wondered if it had a choice

Why did it nest in a place without joys?

                                                             

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

And wished I was the bird,

Who was free to do what it wanted,

And not in the camp be haunted.

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

And envied the freedom it had

It could decide to settle outside;

Somewhere without soldiers beside

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

And come back again with a leaf

I wished I could give it a warning,

And tell it about the miserable mornings

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

And thought of how it would settle there

It had no idea that families weren’t allowed

And that people were beaten in a crowd

 

I watched the bird fly across the fence,

I threw a stone, and broke its nest.

It could find a home outside, my eyes turned damp

But any place was better than the concentration camp.