Poetry 2019

The Camp - D.B. This poem is from the perspective of a German soldier.

Concentration camp Gas chambers Long killing lines Dead bodies all around me Here I am My job is to murder people I don’t want to kill anymore I feel terrible They are innocent people I want all Jews to be free I want to be free from Doing this job

I am a Believer - C.E-C

I am a believer Who feels the depression between every young man and woman, I wonder why they do this to us, I hear words of hatred, I feel the unfairness, To all my brothers and sisters, But we don't fall down, I see fighting going on beyond as the eye can see, I want to be equal to every man, No matter how I look, I am a believer, Who feels the pain of all who may suffer, I hope to one day see everybody happy, Together, Nothing is easy, I feel the hate, Everyday, I worry for safety, I pretend it is okay when it’s not, I cry for my people and my loved ones, I am a believer, I understand people don't like me, Shame, I love the way people care, love, and feel for each other, But that is not forever, I feel there is a border,

Separating us because of the way we look, I feel the sadness from all the little boys and girls, That simply can not go to school.

Is it too much to share a class with a little African American boy?

Shame, I dream to one day hold hands with my neighbors all in harmony, But I simply can not.

Too much sadness, Too much unfairness, Too much hate, I hope to someday watch my little children play with the other white kids, All with love, Because I am a believer.

I.C. Once I was scared.

Once I was shy.

Once I was quiet.

Now I am strong, loud, and ready to fight for my rights.

Once I was the perfect housewife.

Once I was teaching my daughters to sit still and look pretty.

Once I was a clueless woman, that never knew the power I had over my rights.

Now I am a strong mother, leader, and woman.

Once I was defined by the man I loved.

Once I was sponsored by the fancy dresses, and the makeup.

Once I was a trophy wife.

Now I am always powerful, strong and hopeful.

Once I was clingy.

Once I was vain.

Once I was unforgiving.

Now I am independent, selfless, and ready to let go, and forgive.

Now I am proud to be a woman.

My Baby Can - S.H.

I could not go to school with whites.

My baby can now.

I could not ride the bus without going to the back.

My baby can now.

I could not sit in a restaurant or be served.

My baby can now.

I could not use the same water fountain as whites.

My baby can now.

I could not use the same bathroom as whites.

My baby can now.

I could not use the same pool as whites.

My baby can now.

I could not watch a movie in the same room as whites.

My baby can now.

I could not vote.

My baby can now.

I could not be friends with whites.

My baby can now.

I could not walk down the sidewalk in a straight line without stepping off the curb.

My baby can now.

I had no hope.

I do now.

I Am A Woman - S.H.

Why can’t I own my things?

I am a woman.

Why can’t I vote?

I am a woman.

Why can’t I earn a job?

I am a woman.

Why must I wed?

I am a woman.

Why must I have children?

I am a woman.

Why must I clean all day?

I am a woman.

Why can I not attend school?

I am a woman.

Why must I wear a dress?

I am a woman.

I own my own things.

I am a woman - S.H.

I vote.

I am a woman.

I have a job.

I am a woman.

I am single by choice.

I am a woman.

I have no children.

I am a woman.

I don’t clean all day.

I am a woman.

I have a college degree.

I am a woman.

I wear pants.

I am a woman.

I am a woman.

Am I not human? - S.H.

Can I not live?

Am I a monster?

Please let me live.

They hit me.

They starve me.

They put me in stripes.

Am I not human?

Can I not live?

Am I a monster?

Please let me live.

They take my family.

They burn my friends.

Am I not human?

Can I not live?

Am I a monster?

Please let me live.

S.H. My only son was taken away, Brought to his death by white men.

He was playing with his friends by a store And decided to do a dare they told him.

A woman was buying some food in a store And my son was looking at sunglasses.

He then did something that would change his life But unfortunately, it would end it.

I was told he whistled, whooped, or clapped At this woman politely, But some men saw him and thought he deserved To be tortured and thrown in a river.

I found out from my uncle, He said my son was unrecognizable, If it wasn’t for the ring on his hand Then they wouldn’t know who he was.

Holocaust Poem - M.H.

I am A victim from judgement.

I wonder Why it was us and what was wrong with us?

I hear Screams from children crying because they haven’t eaten in days I see.

Shriveled bodies that are getting weaker and weaker by every second that goes by.

I want To be home in my bed and never have to think about Hitler and the Nazis ever again.

I am A victim from judgement.

I pretend When I lay on the hard and bitter wood that lays beneath me as I fall asleep that tomorrow will be the day that everyone gets to leave this awful place called Auschwitz-Birkenau.

I feel Humiliated that we are judged by many people because of one revolting man that causes Jews so much pain.

I worry That I will never be able to see my friends and classmates every again.

I cry When I see people fighting over one single piece of bread when it falls out of an innocent, no longer living person’s purple hands.

I am A victim from judgement.

I understand That people felt threatened by us that we would take their chances in away, but we weren’t going to take them away from them.

I say, “Please, let us go. We did nothing wrong. We are just like you.”

I dream That one day we will leave this camp and never have to worry that we could be beaten anymore.

I try To stay strong, to keep my head held high and never to give up on what I believe in just because people are telling me that I’m wrong.

I hope that one day it won’t be me, just another dead body that is moved out of the barracks.

I am A victim from judgement.

I am a Survivor - T.K. I am a survivor of the internment I wonder what made them do this I see the small places we slept I am a survivor of the internment I pretend to forget it I feel the cries of everyone who died I cry for everyone I am a survivor of the internment I understand that we were considered spies I say “that isn’t fair” I dream that I am there again I try to forget it I hope that this doesn’t happen again I am a survivor of the internment

The Holocaust - T.K.

I don't know what this was for.

Why we were killed.

Why we were targeted.

But most of all, what did we do to merit this?

Why was Hitler so mean?

Why was “the final solution� so important?.

What I understand most is that Hitler targeted us for absolutely no reason.

Why did they give out all their hatred towards us?

Why were we considered the reason that Germany lost all its money?

6 million lost - A.S.

I remember The separation of my family.

I remember The hatred from the Germans.

I remember The tiny train cars towards the camps.

I remember The barracks I shared with other kids.

I remember The nonstop smoke from the crematorium.

I remember The “showers� that none came back from.

I remember The gigantic piles of shoes from the lost.

I remember The guards with guns who shot the weak.

I remember The last breath of my dead friend.

I remember The Soviets who freed us from the camp.

I remember When I realized I was alone in the world.