It was a heart attack.
Sudden, and a real surprise.
The next thing I knew I saw him.
He wore a dark suit and red tie.
He had the image of a lawyer
and I didn’t expect that.
But, as a lawyer myself
it felt familiar.
I could see in his eyes
that he was ready to make a deal.
I asked for one wish, and he agreed.
There was something I always wanted to do
but it had been impossible.
I wanted to cross-examine ******.
The Devil said: ”Now’s your chance.”
We were suddenly in a courtroom.
Adolph was brought in
and placed under oath.
“Isn’t it true”, I asked,
“that you murdered millions of Jews?”
“Not alone”, he answered,
“but yes, I ordered it.”
I was overwhelmed by this admission
of unimaginable inhumanity.
I lost my courtroom composure
and yelled: “How could you do that?”
He answered; “You’re not so innocent
as to judge me.”
Even less composed now, and taken aback, I asked:
“What do you mean?”
He said: “You’re doing it, too!”
“Millions of your black brothers and sisters
live in concentration camps you call ‘ghettos’.”
“And you go along with it.”
“They have bad housing and schools,
and lack essential things
because of where they have to live.”
“And you don’t give it a thought.
You even blame them for it.”
“Don’t you get it?”
“Don’t you see how it kills their chances for life?”
I objected and blurted out:
“Who’s on trial here?”
He answered: “You wanted the truth
and I’m giving it to you.”
I turned to the Devil and said:
“Are you going to let him go on like this?”
The Devil said: “I think he’s just getting started.”