I remember myself from those days

as a small girl

who walked the noisy streets

in spite of the cruelty

I remember looking at the people

at the big buildings

at the sky and at the consistent sun

rising my face to them, warming myself

in that remote sun

at night through my window I counted stars

trying to foretell the future:

will there be for me another tomorrow

will I be still alive the next night?

I remember those people

who hurried through crowded streets

their clothes, faces - glances

countless times I pushed my way among them, watching

wishing to grow up faster - to be their equal

they seemed to me then powerful, eternal

in spite of that cursed fear

they were so full of life, constant movement

inconceivably ingenious

later I have seen the same streets abandoned and empty

I was taken through those deaden streets

in the midst of the rubble of burned buildings

those powerful crowds were missing among the living

only that usual sky

far away stars

and the sun