Himmler Describes the Cathedral of Light, poems by Anne M Carson
from Massaging Himmler: A poetic biography of Dr Felix Kersten
Anne M Carson is a writer and visual artist, whose poetry is published internationally and widely in Australia. Removing the Kimono, was published by Hybrid Publishers in 2013. She has won and been commended in numerous poetry prizes including being shortlisted in the New Shoots Poetry Prize 2016 and commended in the 2015 Melbourne Poets Union International Poetry Prize. As a Creative Writing Therapist she has edited and facilitated the group process which resulted in the publication of three books. She teaches Poetry Writing and Appreciation to adults and serves as Director Arts on the board of Ondru – a social-change-through-the-creative-arts organisation. Currently she is looking for a publisher for the story in verse of a little-known, Second World War humanitarian. The manuscript is called Massaging Himmler: A poetic biography of Dr Felix Kersten. www.annemcarson.com
Konigen Wilhelmina der Nederlanden gives a testimonial [1]
Den Haag, de Nederland, 1928
Doktor Kersten is recommended to us by friends
and I request his attendance at the Palace in Den Haag.
My husband, the Prince, is gravely ill, confined
to bed, too weak at times to lift his head. Our
Doktors give him only six short months. Dr Kersten
consents to a consultation, uses his skill to boost
the nerves which feed the heart. My husband revives
– a miracle to see colour in his cheeks, him strong
enough to make a jest. He resumes his work, lives a
vibrant life, cherished consort to the Queen. We urge
Felix to make his home here in Den Haag. In honour
of his service, to secure his future aid, I appoint him
Hofarts – Physician to the Queen. Dutch by ancestry,
it pleases him to have won court favour. He sets up
residence, takes on further clientele – royal appointment
is imprimatur. We owe the greatest debt to Doktor
Felix Kersten – when hope of normal life was gone,
Hendrik survives, thrives – my husband and my Prince.
[1] This incident from Kessel J. (Translated by Denise Folliot), The Magic Touch.
Rupert Hart-Davis, London, 1961, p 32
Himmler describes the Cathedral of Light
Sixth Party Congress, Nürnberg, September 1934
I am astounded at the impact of those
152 vertical light-beams rising pale
like marble pillars into the night sky,
a monumental building, constructed
before our very eyes. None of the magic
lost on me, despite knowing in advance –
when those searchlights are switched on
they light me up inside as well as
the Nürnberger dark. Out of the insubstantiality
of only-light, Hitler’s magnificent vision,
his Tausendjähriges Reich, is made real
and grand before us. Magnificent, as he is.
Rapture infuses the faces of the Volk, primal
oohs and aahs of wonder and exaltation
from the 700,000 throats, entranced one
and all. They are simple, the Volk, they need
basic pictures painted for them, a future
made visible. It might be Speer who designs
such grandeur but, I reassure myself, he is
a mere tool Hitler uses to dress his dreams.
© Anne M Carson