we 

 walk 

   the 

     biggest 

       cemetery 

	 of

	   Eastern 

             Europe	

              organized

                systematic

                  staggering 

                    frugality

         muffled 

            blanket 

              of 

                whistling 

                  December 

                    wind

                       I

                        ask 

                          what 

                            Nazis 

                               did

                with

                           all

            the

             ashes

               we’re

                           walking

                                      on 

                                             them

              	                            the

		                              guide 

                                                  answers

 		                 millions

                         ground 

		                       under  

                     our

                       feet	

About the author:

Amanda Hayden is the current Poet Laureate and award-winning Professor of Humanities, Philosophy, and World Religions for Sinclair College. Her debut poetry collection, American Saunter, inspired by backpacking and traveling across the dusty winding routes of the U.S., is forthcoming by FlowerSong Press in Fall 2024. Old World Wings, her second poetry collection inspired by her European travels, is forthcoming by Wild Ink Publishing in Summer 2025. She lives on a windy little farm with her partner, daughters, and many furry rescue babies including two goats, seven pigs, and an incredibly special, blind, three-legged “angel in a dog suit” Vinny Valentine. https://windychickenpoet.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WindyChickenPoet/ https://www.instagram.com/windychickenpoet/

Photo by Erica Magugliani on Unsplash