For the first time, I truly understand Adorno’s famous statement:

“After Auschwitz, writing poetry is barbaric.”

In the face of a catastrophe of such magnitude, even poetry, music, and literature fall short—at least in the short term.

Original German:

Nach Auschwitz ein Gedicht zu schreiben, ist barbarisch.

English translation:

To write a poem after Auschwitz is barbaric.