The radio, first chattering companion of the day, br timed its cold shower of the mind with lethal precision br reminding as I stepped into the warmth of water br of those who stepped into the ‘shower’ br and never stepped out br those many past numbering br but each one a one br br and a gentle Scots Quaker voice br conducting this Holocaust Day memorial br to the indescribable br spoke the phrase br ‘the dignity of difference’ br offering the heart some way to walk br the path of grief with human hope br br the dignity of difference – br an empty form of words br like poetry, br like grief, br poised between nothing and everything br waiting to be filled br with tears and joy br with love and sorrow br with memory and hope br with prayer and promise br with mercy and resolve br with humility and lawfulness br with life and the memory of death br with the memory of death, and lifebr br Michael Shepherdbr br