Once Beauty Rang

Once Beauty Rang
(Alice Herz-Sommer,1903-2014)

Once beauty rang
from these thin hands
now crabbed with age.

Once beauty sang
and kept at bay
the terrors of Terrieznstadt.

Once beauty rang
and filled a heart
with warmth and love.

Once beauty sang
and taught a child
to play and live.

Now beauty sings to say farewell
to one who overcame all hate
and justified her faith.