When I first met them they had been thrown

Out of a football match for causing trouble

The younger of the two brothers Rolf

Had been taken to hospital accompanied

By Toni who was not badly injured

I become involved as I had cared

For Toni who was still in a state of shock


I still live in the same house opposite the ground

And apart from war damage not much has changed

That was until yesterday when their mother visited me

She came with sad news as both brothers were dead

They had been killed in the latter stages of the war

She wanted nothing but to share my memories

Of an era when although difficult things made more sense



Histories Paula

Translated from the German