writing/sound-of-genocide.md

---
title: What is the sound of a genocide?
description: A poem reflecting on the sounds and pathways to genocide 
date: 2025-01-27
author: Jennifer C J Radtke
---

# What is the sound of a genocide?

Does a genocide sound like the judgement in court,<br>
the hammer come down, rustling paper and the jangle of keys;<br>
now some of the guilty must pay for their crimes?<br>

Or does it sound like the screams of the victims,<br>
the bullets, the gas and the anguish of people discarded;<br>
the last whisper of breath of the last one to die?<br>

Is it more like the clattering of trains on their tracks,<br>
the orders given, the bustle and then the final slam of the door<br>
as the people inside murmur their unease?<br>

Perhaps a genocide can be heard coming in the chorus of hate,<br>
escaping the shadows on roads paved with silence,<br>
as pens scratch on paper and plans come together?<br>

Do you hear it echo in the voice of one who sees profit in division,<br> 
the denial that such things ever happened, or could happen here,<br>
or in the silent heart of one who looks upon another, and says, I --<br>
I am better.<br>

# Notes

Genocide is not a silent, hidden crime. This piece is a reflection on the way it unfolds over time, written following a circuit service for Holocaust Memorial Day. From the time a genocide is formally declared with criminal responsibility, it follows events backwards, drawing on the [ten stages of genocide](https://hmd.org.uk/learn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides/what-is-genocide/the-ten-stages-of-genocide/) for some of the steps. 

![Candle lit in window. Windows in flats opposite can be seen in the background.](%assets_url%/images/city_candle.jpg)
poem for HMD 2025-01-27 20:45:29 +00:00			`---`
			`title: What is the sound of a genocide?`
			`description: A poem reflecting on the sounds and pathways to genocide`
			`date: 2025-01-27`
			`author: Jennifer C J Radtke`
			`---`

			`# What is the sound of a genocide?`

fix line endings 2025-01-27 20:51:10 +00:00			`Does a genocide sound like the judgement in court,<br>`
			`the hammer come down, rustling paper and the jangle of keys;<br>`
			`now some of the guilty must pay for their crimes?<br>`
poem for HMD 2025-01-27 20:45:29 +00:00
fix line endings 2025-01-27 20:51:10 +00:00			`Or does it sound like the screams of the victims,<br>`
			`the bullets, the gas and the anguish of people discarded;<br>`
			`the last whisper of breath of the last one to die?<br>`
poem for HMD 2025-01-27 20:45:29 +00:00
fix line endings 2025-01-27 20:51:10 +00:00			`Is it more like the clattering of trains on their tracks,<br>`
			`the orders given, the bustle and then the final slam of the door<br>`
			`as the people inside murmur their unease?<br>`
poem for HMD 2025-01-27 20:45:29 +00:00
fix line endings 2025-01-27 20:51:10 +00:00			`Perhaps a genocide can be heard coming in the chorus of hate,<br>`
			`escaping the shadows on roads paved with silence,<br>`
			`as pens scratch on paper and plans come together?<br>`
poem for HMD 2025-01-27 20:45:29 +00:00
fix line endings 2025-01-27 20:51:10 +00:00			`Do you hear it echo in the voice of one who sees profit in division,<br>`
			`the denial that such things ever happened, or could happen here,<br>`
			`or in the silent heart of one who looks upon another, and says, I --<br>`
			`I am better.<br>`
notes 2025-01-27 21:43:16 +00:00
			`# Notes`

			`Genocide is not a silent, hidden crime. This piece is a reflection on the way it unfolds over time, written following a circuit service for Holocaust Memorial Day. From the time a genocide is formally declared with criminal responsibility, it follows events backwards, drawing on the [ten stages of genocide](https://hmd.org.uk/learn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides/what-is-genocide/the-ten-stages-of-genocide/) for some of the steps.`

			`![Candle lit in window. Windows in flats opposite can be seen in the background.](%assets_url%/images/city_candle.jpg)`