The Holocaust From Their Eyes | Teen Ink

The Holocaust From Their Eyes

February 3, 2009
By AnnaD BRONZE, East Bethany, New York
AnnaD BRONZE, East Bethany, New York
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments

The chills up my spine,
a line not so fine.
As I walk in their tracks,
my mind goes to their acts.

We all ask "Why them?
Aren't they such a gem?"
Remembering the Jews,
I seek the others' views.
The Jews were very good,
Let's see where Nazis stood.

I try to see their view,
I can't fit in their shoe.
From what I understand,
They listened to command.
Though they were corrupt,
they would interrupt,
the unity of life,
which they cut with a knife.

Was their life shaken,
as others' were taken?
They left their home, too.
Did they have a clue?
Their acts were bad,
but were they glad?
They all were at fault,
but did some exalt?

As I leave these questions,
make I make suggestions?
All of us see the known,
but do we reach the bone?
We all see the outside,
we all know the Jews cried.
Do we know the Nazis pain?
For what did they ever gain?
Surely all their acts were not right,
but for once can we see their sight?

The author's comments:
Our English class did a unit on Holocaust poetry. For our final poetry project, we had to write several poems about the Holocaust. I thought I would do something different and try to see the Holocaust in the eyes of the Nazis, instead of always writing about the Jews' views. I encourage everyone to take a step back and look at the world from both sides; try to imagine what the opposition is thinking.

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This article has 14 comments.


ANNA'S PAPA said...
on Mar. 4 2009 at 5:17 am
Very well written and love it. keep up the good work girl.

rivergirl said...
on Mar. 3 2009 at 11:52 am
You've been paying attention in class - touching poem! I like the "other side" view. Very nice work. Can't wait to see more!

on Feb. 25 2009 at 7:09 pm
great writing, very deep

mayski said...
on Feb. 23 2009 at 5:35 pm
Hey Girl! You've done it again! Keep it up! You're showing impressive sensitivity

KooterwithaK said...
on Feb. 20 2009 at 7:15 pm
Great writing! Words to think on! You have a point there with your view from the other side. What the Germans did was horrifying -or- was it the German leadership that was resposible for such gruesomeness? Hopefully we would recognize any such likeness in our own leadership before it would be too late.....

l12345 said...
on Feb. 20 2009 at 6:47 pm
cool - loved it - can't even imagine what went through the minds of the nazi soldiers

lowski said...
on Feb. 19 2009 at 4:18 pm
great poem, makes you think - let's not forget!

shirdyjane said...
on Feb. 19 2009 at 12:00 pm
Very well written! Certainly makes you think. I admire the writer for her daring stance to "look at the other side".

SammyGee said...
on Feb. 18 2009 at 10:02 pm
Absolutely awesome! As a college student and already completed a course on World History that required my reading of Richard Glazar's 'Trap With a Green Fence' I've never thought to look at WWII through the nazis eyes. This poem is leading me to consider the thought process behind the nazis actions by applying sociological and psychological concepts. Once again, great poem!!!

sonnnyd said...
on Feb. 18 2009 at 5:41 pm
I like the way that the author utilizes rhyme and especially how she approaches a sensitive subject. You can feel the difficulty of the "can't fit in their shoe." I also like the way she reaches out to both readers and the nazis. Well done!

AnnaD BRONZE said...
on Feb. 18 2009 at 3:17 am
AnnaD BRONZE, East Bethany, New York
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Amazing!

lizzylou109 said...
on Feb. 18 2009 at 1:31 am
She is an excellent writer of poems! Does well in explaining a topic of this nature.

dliz123 said...
on Feb. 16 2009 at 9:20 pm
For a student of her age, she is going to go a long ways in writing poems. Excellent

AnnaD BRONZE said...
on Feb. 16 2009 at 3:50 pm
AnnaD BRONZE, East Bethany, New York
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Wow!