Oratorio Terezin Text: Part 3

THE GARDEN
Franta (Frantisek) Bass. b. Brno, Sept.4th 1930 Deported to Terezin Dec.2nd 1941 d. Auschwitz Oct.28th 1944

A little garden,
Fragrant and full of roses.
The path is narrow
And a little boy walks along it.
A little boy, a sweet boy,
Like that growing blossom.
When the blossom comes to bloom,
that little boy will be no more.

PROPHET:
Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land:
CHOIR:
- Is not the Lord in Zion - Is her King not in her  - - .
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. -
PROPHET:
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt.
I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?
O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears
So that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people. (Jeremiah 8:19 - 9:1)

NIGHT IN THE GHETTO
Anon 1943
Another day has gone for keeps
Into the bottomless pit of time.
Again it has wounded a man, held captive by his brethren.
After dusk, he longs for bandages,
For soft hands to shield his eyes
Form all the horrors that stare by day.
But in the ghetto, darkness is too kind
To weary eyes which all day long have had to watch.

Full Choir:
Why have you forgotten us completely?
Why have you forsaken us these many days?
Restore us to Yourself O Lord,
that we may be restored;
renew our days as of old- unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure. (Lamentation 5; 20-22)

THE OLD HOUSE
Franta (Frantisek) Bass. b. Brno, Sept.4th 1930 Deported to Terezin Dec.2nd 1941 d. Auschwitz Oct.28th 1944

Deserted here, the old house Stands in silence, asleep.
The old house used to be so nice, Before, standing there,
It was so nice. Now it is deserted,
Rotting in silence -
What a waste of houses,
A waste of hours

Oratorio Terezin Website © 2006 Ruth Fazal/Tributary Music, 296 Glebemount Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4C 3V3 Canada