For the Dying Calves by Durs Grünbein

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This reflection on the ways in which the Nazi regime presented itself, and the ways in which we remember and relate to it – the silence in the early German post-war years, the ways the increasing distance can reveal more but the risks that this is now moving beyond “living” memory. How do we continue to witness to the horror now?

In the continued paragraphs Durs writes

“Even if they are dreamers, the poets, the only thing they do not doubt is that the words and deeds of our predecessors will catch up with us. In this respect they are sensitive, specialists, constantly in radio contact with the dead.

… No one can jump out of their historical time, no one escapes being formed by history. Once perhaps in the unimaginable times of myth and fairy tale. But today, impossible. …

There is no question of a flight from time, nor a flight inwards – for even there history will catch up with everyone. Instead, history as a history of violence passes though time and imprints itself with all its dates on our bodies. …”

These are uncomfortable conclusions, we would rather be able to stand apart for history, to close the door on it dark chapters and act is if they were nothing to do with us – but we have to live with our history, bring it into the light so that we can be honest in relation to it.