Chant to be Used in Processions Around a Site with Furnaces

Trappist monk, Catholic writer, mystic, social activist, poet, and student of comparative religion, Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a highly influential thinker and spiritual leader of the 20th century. His numerous book, poems, and works reflect his deep and complex mind and spirit.

Merton wrote the poem “Chant to be Used in Processions Around a Site with Furnaces” in 1963. It is an anti-poem in the style of Nicanor Parra and in it, Merton offers a portrayal of SS Officer Rudolf Hoess, Auschwitz commander responsible for two and a half million murders. Merton used material from Hoess’s Nuremberg testimony and tried to convey his persona, but why did Merton write this poem 17 years after the Nuremberg trials?

The last section perhaps give us part the answer. Merton was a stark opponent of the wars being fought in the 1960s and was outspoken about it. And what does this poem tell us today?

The commander condemns us who condemned him over half a century ago.

How we made them sleep and purified them
How we perfectly cleaned up the people and worked a big heater
I was the commander I made improvements and installed a guaranteed system taking account of human weakness I purified and I remained decent
How I commanded I made cleaning appointments and then I made the travelers sleep and after that I made soap
I was born into a Catholic family but as these people were not going to need a priest I did not become a priest I installed a perfectly good machine it gave satisfaction to many

When trains arrived the soiled passengers received appointments for fun in the bathroom they did not guess
It was a very big bathroom for two thousand people it awaited arrival and they arrived safely
There would be an orchestra of merry widows not all the time much art
If they arrived at all they would be given a greeting card to send home taken care of with good jobs wishing you would come to our joke

Another improvement I made was I built the chambers for two thousand invitations at a time the naked votaries were disinfected with Zyklon B
Children of tender age were always invited by reason of their youth they were unable to work they were marked out for play
They were washed like the others and more than the others
Very frequently women would hide their children in the piles of clothing but of course when we came to find them we would send the children into the chamber to be bathed

How I often commanded and made improvements and sealed the door on top there were flowers the men came with crystals
I guaranteed always the crystal parlour
I guaranteed the chamber and it was sealed you could see through portholes
They waited for the shower it was not hot water that came through vents though efficient winds gave full satisfaction portholes showed this
The satisfied all ran together to the doors awaiting arrival it was guaranteed they made ends meet

How I could tell by their cries that love came to a full stop I found the ones I had made clean after about a half hour Jewish male inmates then worked up nice they had rubber boots in return for adequate food I could not guess their appetite
Those at the door were taken apart out of a fully stopped love for rubber male inmates strategic hair and teeth being used later for defence
Then the males removed all clean love rings and made away with happy gold

A big new firm promoted steel forks operating on a cylinder they got the contract and with faultless workmanship delivered very fast goods
How I commanded and made soap 12 pounds fat 10 quarts water 8 ounces to a pound of caustic soda but it was hard to find any fat
“For transporting the customers we suggest using light carts on wheels a drawing is submitted”
“We acknowledge four steady furnaces and an emergency guarantee”

“I am a big new commander operating on a cylinder I elevate the purified materials boil for 2 to 3 hours and then cool”
For putting them into a test fragrance I suggested an express elevator operated by the latest cylinder it was guaranteed
Their love was fully stopped by our perfected ovens but the love rings were salvaged
Thanks to the satisfaction of male inmates operating the heaters without need of compensation our guests were warmed

All the while I had obeyed perfectly
So I was hanged in a commanding position with a full view of the site plant and grounds
You smile at my career but you would do as I did if you knew yourself and dared
In my days we worked hard we saw what we did our self sacrifice was conscientious and complete our work was faultless and detailed

Do not think yourself better because you burn up friends
and enemies with long-range missiles without ever
seeing what you have done