Diamante - 2

Holocaust

tragic, horrific

starving, living, fearing

“Final Solution” to what

transporting, killing, lying

frightening, raging

Death

Annex

safe, secret

hiding, growing, losing

Everyone giving their all

fighting, loving, crying

quiet, temporary

Home

- JA

Holocaust

devastating catastrophic

killing destroying tortuing

making me hate myself

hiding fearing dying

frightened terrified

genocide

Jew

anxious uncertain

watching listening whispering

knowing God’s in control

hoping praying believing

faithful devout

Survivor

- KZ

Color Poem - 1

Red is death

Red is marching soldiers taking over our homes

Red is our lives being forcefully taken

Red is the families being torn apart

Red tastes like rotten lettuce

Red smells like gunpowder in the air

Red sounds like air raid sirens at night

Red feels like terror

Red looks like a man with a tiny mustache

Red makes me frightened to go outside

Red is Nazi invasion - JA

Gold is the color he brands me with

Gold is the star brightly shining on all my clothes

Gold is the label on my new ID card

Gold is the wedding ring the soldiers took from my hand

Gold tastes like the sickening metal taste in the air

Gold smells like the filthy bullets we make so Hitler can kill

Gold sounds like the tinny clinking of glasses and jewelry before they are melted

Gold feels like the sun that is never going to warm me again

Gold makes me think of the golden gates of heaven I will soon see

Gold is my past and my present and my future

- KZ

Haiku - 4

Birds are what I hear

When life fades quickly away

I thought I was safe

Lives cannot be bought

With blood or propaganda

Nazis take them all

- JA

Bombs drop from the air

We cower in fear at night

Lucky to survive

Butterflies are free

But we are all locked inside

But what have we done?

Alone in my space

The closet I curl up in

To hide from his rage

The red, white, and black

Now covering my city

Tells me Hitler’s here

- KZ

Back to my hometown

Or at least what’s left of it

Finding who’s survived

I know I must speak

Share my experiences

Tell of the terror

Tanka - 3

Why wouldn’t they stop

until each one had perished?

Why couldn’t they stop

when they saw how we suffered?

They will pay by Holy hands.

Rain falls from the sky

My face battered, cut and bruised

Starvation is nigh

How many lives are enough?

Why do we deserve to die?

No one understands

Blind is the nature of men

Following one man

Destroying faith in mankind

Not finding truth in their deeds - JA

Keeping to myself

The horror I have survived

Seems like the best plan

But then how will my sons know?

Will they see God’s gift of life?

Believing in man

Got me hiding in this place

Believing in God

Will keep me safe and free me

He will never desert me

I have a future

Because someone fought Hitler

Fought by feeding me

Fought by giving me safety

Fought with their own life

- KZ

Cinquain - 3

Alone Persecuted Our worlds turned upside-down Always feeling misunderstood Jewish Appear Fill me with hope Need now more than ever With all your might you must release Oh God Away They sent me here Ones who said they loved me Will I ever be home again Survive

- JA

D Day!

The invasion!

We danced, we cried, we sang.

Heroes were on their way to us.

But when?

Kissed me

the chimes rang out

I knew I loved Peter

Hoping we would be forever

in love

Stealing

food from children.

Shamed by my father’s deeds,

I turn away. Shocked by his greed,

I weep.

- KZ

I AM - 1

I am passionate and wise beyond my years I wonder when this travesty will end I hear the wedding bells ringing I see a young woman marrying the love of her life I want to fall in love I am passionate and wise beyond my years I pretend to be ice skating with him I feel the touch of his lips to my cheek I touch his hair and his face I cry when I realize it will never be I worry that this war will never end I am passionate and wise beyond my years I understand that many of my friends are gone I say that my mother will never understand my position I dream of the sun kissing my skin at the beach I try to release my mind with my writing I hope my friends know there is a God I am passionate and wise beyond my years

- JA

I AM - 1

I am hopeful and kind

I wonder if my family will get out of this alive

I hear American soldiers shouting liberation in the streets

I see Jews walking without ID cards or passports or stars

I want my world back

I am hopeful and kind

I pretend that there is still hope

I feel Anne in this place

I touch her diary and imagine her sweet smile

I worry that I didn’t do enough

I cry at the memory of Anne’s laughter.

I am hopeful and kind

I understand there was nothing more I could do

I say Anne and Margot deserved a world better than this

I dream that this war never happened

I try to wake up and move on

I hope someday I actually will

I am hopeful and kind. - KZ

BioPoem - 1

Edith Soft-spoken, well-mannered, protective, naïve Friend of Anne, even when I’m rejected Lover of all children, safety and security, the freedon I fear I shall never share with my family again Who feels the need to coddle, to belittle, to scrutinize Who needs to comfort of God, the acceptance of my daughters, the assistance of knights Who gives my nourishment to my children, my love to a man who protects me, my patience to rude, angry men Who fears the end, the beginning, the present Who would like to see the end, the beginning and the gifts of God Resident of this temporary home Frank

- JA

Margot

Understanding Quiet Considerate Intelligent

Sibling of Anne

Lover of reading, cooking, and crosswords

Who feels sorry for Anne, enraged by Mr. Dussel, compassion for Mother

Who needs attention, privacy, and something to wake up for

Who gives encouragement to Mother and Anne, attention to my studies, and time to myself

Who fears living and not knowing the future, being found, losing Anne

Who would like to see the war ended, my family back home, my world right again

Resident of Holland’s secret annex

Frank

- KZ

List Poem – 1 (12 or more lines); 2 or more (if shorter)

What drives a man to send his children away?

It drives him to know that they will surely die.

It drives him to fear that they will suffer the wrath of mindless soldiers

It drives him to see the terror in their eyes.

It drives him to feel their hearts beating while they sleep so ignorantly peaceful.

It drives him to hear the laughter in their innocence.

It drives him to know that they deserve a chance.

It drives him to fear the uncertainty ahead.

It drives him to see them growing inch by inch.

It drives him to feel their hands held tightly in his own.

It drives him to hear the air raid sirens deep in the night.

And knowing that their survival is more essential than his own.

The strangers are his only hope.

- JA

How did you survive?

By hiding in a tiny attic

By relying on the kindness of others

By stealing bread

By lying and forging papers

By escaping in the dark of night

By bribing soldiers for extra blankets

By praying to God

By believing that I could make it

By trusting in the world to save me

By raiding dead bodies of clothes and socks

By scavenging for anything edible

By always knowing I was worth living

By never, never letting the Nazis get in my head

By knowing, somehow, I would survive.

- KZ

Question and Answer Poem – 1 (12 lines or longer); 2 or more (if shorter)

Sending Her Away

Is there something wrong with me?

No, you are perfect just the way you are. Then why do you hate me, Daddy?

I don’t hate you my little pupela. Why can’t I stay with you?

I love you too much. Does mommy hate me, too?

You are everything to her. Then why will you put me on the train?

We want you to have a full life. How can I do that without you?

You will be safe there. Why don’t you come with me, papa?

I can’t, someday you’ll understand. When will I see you again?

Soon, darling, soon. -JA

Who?

Who invaded Poland?

Germany

Who did Hitler despise?

Jews

Who gave up without a fight?

Too many

Who followed orders?

All the soldiers

Who were sentenced to death?

The young, the old, the in

between

Who hid Jews to save them?

Those who are righteous

Who ignored it all and did nothing?

More than can be counted

-KZ

Dialogue Poem – 1 (12 lines or longer); 2 or more (if shorter)

I feel there’s something wrong. What is it? You can tell me. All these soldiers appeared overnight. I saw them in the streets. The flags went up as well. Black, white, and red, right? I wonder what they want. The Jews will have to wear yellow stars. That doesn’t make sense. I know. They are just like us. I wish there was something we could do. We are just too few. We could help at least one. So that’s what we will do.

- JA

Dialogue Poem – 1 (12 lines or longer); 2 or more (if shorter)

Father, we must leave.

We’ve come to Holland.

We must go further.

The Dutch will fight, Hitler will not win here.

Father, Hitler has more power than you know.

Hush child, there will be no more talk.

Father, we must hide.

Follow the rules, all will be well.

No, Father! We have no choice!

I think you are mistaken my girl.

Please, I won’t leave you. For me, come!

I will not hide like I am ashamed!

Father, they have come.

Yes, my child.

You are brave and strong and right.

But old child, too, too old.

No, Father. We will be together again.

Child, protect yourself. Run! Hide! Do justice to my memory.

- KZ

Acrostic Poem – 1 (12 lines or longer); 2 or more (if shorter)

Among the millions hidden in fear Secluded and condemned unjustly Eager for the end to come Cowering in fear of his inexplicable power Realizing the danger every moment Eating rotten food to live Trying to survive the war Angry and resentful of the unnecessary tragedies No one can truly understand Never to communicate with friends and family alike Explanations will never make sense Xenophobic men will try to extinguish us all

-JA Aspires to greatness

Never forgets the goodness in others

Needs the warmth of the sun and the memory of a garden

Enjoys what she has

Feels lonely without her Hannah and Jackie

Remembers times of laughter with boys and friends

Aches for the day when she will be free

Nearly survives

Killed by the hatred of one and the ignorance of many

Makes sacrifices to protect others

Insists that she not be seen as a hero

Encourages all that peace will arrive soon

Puts her safety at risk to save the Franks

Guides Anne with advice and friendship

Is sickened by the news that only Otto has survived

Enters the Righteous of the Nations because of her actions

Saves Anne’s diary and affects the world

-KZ