Bright
White
So bright it burned our eyes
The sky had never looked
So cold
As it did on the day
We found a camp
Another camp
The day was bright
Brighter than the past days
That I have seen
The sky was cloudless
But for the wisps
Of ash and smoke above
The wretched building
Its tall, straight fingers
Pointing at the sky
The bright, bright sky
Some survived
A few lay
Still breathing
In ditches
On heaps of masses
Of skin and hair
And threadbare cloth
their expired kin
Others had been burned
Before the murderers fled
A body
Skeletal, gray skin stretched
Too tightly over thinning bones
Clings to my leg
I fear to move
For if I move I may shatter
His frail arms
He stares up at me
His eyes bright
Like dark pools of glass
sparkling, bright
They sound of hope
And of desperation
And of terror
I see another
Digging as an animal
In the stone-hard dirt
Trodden upon by so many
Piteous phantoms
He scratches up the earth
Until he draws from it
A mud-crusted chain
Color unrecognizable
And spits on a knot of clay
That hangs upon it
He polishes the clay
Off of a bright, metal cross
And weeping
Praises God
These people
These ruins, hollowed out bodies
Souls clinging like ice to stones
Were His people
The chosen ones
If there is a God
He should bend to his knees
And beg their forgiveness
You have no idea how close this is to my heart.
Sorry - I just got excited about this.
I chose 'Night' for my degree dissertation...10,000 words!
This is haunting - just like Night.
If you ever have the chance to go to Auschwitz Birkenau then TAKE IT. One of the best/emotional days of my life. Also Anne Frank's house is equally amazing/surreal.
I also recommend If This is a Man - Primo Levi
Wow, this was painfully amazing. I loved this poem and how it flowed just right. The part that said "their expired kin" like sent chills down my back. Ahhhh, I just love this!!
I can't wait to read more.
I just read Night as well in class, and this really is spot on. I love the contrast of how the things around him around are bright, but how dark and painful he really is inside that his eyes are bright as well.
My favorite lines were the last two:
"He should bend to his knees and beg their forgiveness." Brilliant.
Something about the way the most painful memories make the most beautiful art.
Impeccable job!
~theLockedLibrary
my gosh, your imagery is pretty dang incredible
Amazing, I have read Night as well and you have described it perfectly
This is beyond amazing. I have also read Night and i honestly doubt anyone could ever write such a perfect depiction of all the horrors as well as you did in so few lines... I can find absolutely 0 flaws nor think of a single suggestion. Seriously I've never read anything that has painted such detailed, terrible pictures in my mind and has cut so deep into my emotions.. Like i cannot even begin to tell you how impressed i am.
Amazing job and keep writing! -Heather
I saw that you read night, and we just read that in my class (I'm only 13 so...). This unfortunatley describes both the book and the horrible genocide that was the holocaust so well it's a little scary. I CAN NOT say I like the poem at all because it was just so horrible of an event :'(
However I like your writing and it is very accurate and really describes the states of the emaciated inmates but...shouldn't you have mentioned the creamatorium, or something like that. Alo your punctuation was lacking but I suppose you are so expirienced you don't need me to be nit picky and point out the details.
"He stares up at me
His eyes bright
Like dark pools of glass
sparkling, bright
They sound of hope
And of desperation
And of terror"
wouldn't their eyes have been dull and small (bleak, hopeless) or were you describing when the allies came to help them?
Overall very well written. I truly look foward to reading more of your works.
Keep it Up
~Speakerskat