Shoes by the River

In 1944 or so,
The Nazis did deliver
A group of Jews in Hungary
Into the Danube River.

They lined them up and shot them dead -
Not one did soldiers save -
A Jew was not considered worthy
Of a normal grave.

Before they shot them, one command
Was, "First, take off your shoes."
The shots rang out and that was all
Remaining of the Jews.

Today in Budapest, you'll see
Lined up along the shore,
A lot of beat-up shoes in bronze
To stay forevermore.

And looking at those shoes, you'll find
The past has come alive.
The Jews who wore them somehow
Beat the odds and still survive.

Memorials have power if
They don't let us forget,
And those shoes by the Danube
Left me strongly in their debt.