Deaths Still Denied

by Sofia Kontogeorge Kostos

In that land where no one was killed
Turkish scimitars severed
heads from bodies
in frenzied orgies flew

In that land where no one was killed
fingers and tongues ripped
askew. Priests' eyes in prayer
bayonetted from their sockets

In that land where no one was killed
private parts severed
and tossed to beasts. Mobs spat
mocked and quartered priests

In that land where no one was killed
tortured for torturers' sate
hot hard boiled eggs wedged under armpits
Christians cried

In that land where no one was killed
shoved into Turkish baths,
pushed out to icy nights
men writhed in frozen sound

In that land where no one was killed
for sport: humans skinned alive,
fingernails pulled out
screams in the desert

In that land where no one was killed
foot bottoms beaten
bloodied and swollen
victims cried, "Why Father?"

In that land where no one was killed
burly blacksmiths nailed
horseshoes into human soles
till rusted blood flowed.

In that land where no one was killed
paid with plundered loot
fierce Turk convicts set loose
to glut their wanton evil

In that land where no one was killed
burdened by heavy taxes
they dared not complain
Turks did not care

In that land where no one was killed
children abducted-boys to J anissaries
girls to Harems
-never to return

In that land where no one was killed
Turks shrieked, "Kara kopek,
black dog, you!
come here. I am your master!"

In that land where no one was killed.

Source: Sarafian, Ara (ed.), Forgotten Genocides of the 20th Century, Taderon Press, London and Reading, p. 65.