The twelfth of August

At least thirteen prominent Yiddish writers were executed on August 12, 1952, among them Peretz Markish, Leib Kvitko, Dovid Hofshteyn, Itsik Fefer, Dovid Bergelson, and Der Nister.

Russian Death
Leyb Kvitko

Russian death
is all deaths.

Russian pain
is all pain.

How is the world's heart now?
Its suppurating wound?

Ask a little child.
Ask a Jewish child.

1919
(my translation)