Günter took his cello case and walked up the stairs into a city he did not recognize, a city no more. The air raid sirens had begin screaming late the previous afternoon, and he had dutifully gone down to the cellar to await the all clear as he had many times before. This time it never sounded.
The cold air smelled of burned meat, acrid wood, powdered plaster. No buildings remained standing. The Frauenkirche was gone, the Royal Library, the Kirchewald Apartments.
In the streets lay blackened logs. He could see they’d once been people.
Mozart’s Requiem, he thought. Perfect.
“The cold air smelled of burned meat, acrid wood, powdered plaster.” is a great observation
Even from the ashes, the beauty finds the way to arise. Such a sad, sad story.
A great description of a night in Dresden during WWII. I couldn’t visit the Eastern part of Germany when I still lived in Europe, but I hear about this beautiful city from many of the older people. Wonderful take on the prompt.
Terrible, terrifying. One man alone amid all that carnage. Vivid, horrific descriptions and I liked how you engaged all the senses
The images of Slaughterhouse 5 comes to mind… horrid, but I guess it’s a great choice of music
We both were drawn to the horror of WW II.
You described the grimness of all out war, so well.
I really loved your take on the prompt. It was so graphic and I really found myself standing there in his shoes.
I hope we have learned the lessons from this terrible war but obviously not well enough!
xx Rowena
A powerful picture of a reality many of us may not know
A very dark tale with stark imagery. Nicely done.
Very sombre but effectively written take on the prompt; strongly evokes the senses.
Very evocative and moving.