There were eyes full of wisdom with a story to tell
And a face aged by horror and the memory of hell
And the words must be spoke and I knew only too well
That it was something that couldn't be stilled
As the hands held the book and the eyes blurred fell
There was a vision to see and all doubt to dispel
I sat silent and waited 'til she let drop her shell
And recall what it was to be spilled
Of her life she spoke nil but for a time of great pain
When the earth reeked of filth and a much greater shame
That could only be matched by the devil's own name
And the evil that stuck to his own
For she saw a cold age when man brought hate to acclaim
And a spark was set free that ignited the flame
And those that sought peace sought it only in vain
And the worst in mankind had been shown
"This young Jewish girl" she said closing her eyes
"Was more than shame to my homeland that lies
On the vast growing continent that rose to the cries
Of a man that was wanton and cold"
Then she looked at the book and the tears did rise
She saw 'neath a great mourning and the young girl's replies
To the futile excuse why so many should die
And the world wouldn't hear or be told
I had been reading this book as a diary was wrote
When she came and sat there with a message to tote
She quietly revealed what it was that it spoke
And I heard as I never before
"Ann Frank" she said and i caught on the note
For her voice cradled sadness and 'twas somehow remote
For each word was a witness to what couldn't denote
The feeling that her crying eyes saw
Though times have passed in long turned years
And memories swept back behind clouded tears
It was plain that still there lingered fears
And the vision of loss was plain
And in all just thought I saw somehow that here
Was a story needing telling and so I should hear
For 'twas so that I should for two sides must adhere
And this woman must speak of the reign
Though these years had been blessed by a unwavering run
Although nations still fought and still toted the gun
And most nations had vowed, in a sense become one
In a world that was striking for peace
There was still a concern for as man blindly spun
In creation of weapons that might blacken our sun
This woman still lived in a past gone and done
And still thriving on memories so deep
As she said "I had worked for the underground then
And our course was the cause of freedom for all men
We had riddled the hills and the mountains to defend
What was surely the existence of man
I saw much that was evil and we had to contend
With a power that sought to rule over all men
And as Europe was caught up in the struggle again
It was forced on far stretches of land
And the children far worse had been swept by the tide
As their youth was snatched from them, they had reason to cry
For what is a man that would bring death to abide
In the innocent company of babes
They had been used and abused by the turn of the tide
And they had hungered and pained but there was no place to hide
And they marched down that road with death walking in stride
And the only release was a grave
I could try to explain but there is not such a way
To reveal what it is that lies deep and so grey
For there are no words yet known that could explicitly say
What it is and how heavy it lies
I can't impress on you what the words can't display
For only experience could do such in a way
And I hope that by God you will not see it replayed
For all love of our God it defies"
As I listened to her I could sense every word
Was bound heavy by wisdom and for all that I heard
I had somehow come through a great battle occurred
In a vision of fear that was felt
Though as written by me it cannot be referred
As the closest to truth, though to me is preferred
For it is as close as I want to come near to incur
And be left without wanting and doubt
From the book of Ann Frank had come a story so damned
By a woman who was shamed by her own rightful land
And had been forced to seek hither another to give her its hand
To encompass what pride she had left
Though she felt much inside for her country, her stand
Was not fought in her hate for her people or land
But the tide of that age that she fought to disband
And the reign of its leaders detest
There were eyes full of wisdom with a story to tell
And a face aged by horror and the memories of hell
And the words must be spoke and I knew only too well
That it was something that couldn't be stilled
As the hands held the book and the eyes blurred fell
There was a vision to see and all doubt to dispel
I sat silent and waited 'til she let drop her shell
And recall what it was to be spilled
Author notes
Anne Frank and other Jews
Over one million children under the age of sixteen died in in World War II, not because of the bombs, but because they did not fit in as Hitler’s image of the "perfect" German.
Many children and their parents living in countries which had been invaded by the Germans were imprisoned and killed because they were Jewish.
Jewish people follow the religion known as Judaism. They are Jews.
Anne Frank was an ordinary German Jewish girl. She enjoyed playing with her toys, riding her bike and going to the seaside. However, all this was to change when Hitler came to power in 1933.
Hitler wanted to create what he saw was the perfect German, this meant that anyone who did not fit into his perfect image was persecuted (ill treated) and/or killed. Hitler persecuted German citizens who were Jewish, Gypsies, or otherwise "undesirables".
By the end of World War II, six million Jews were killed because they were, in Hitler's eyes, 'different'.
Anne Frank and other Jews were forced to think they were lower and inadequate to everyone else just because they had a different religious belief.
Many laws were made of what Jews could and couldn’t do, Anne describes some of these in her diary:
“Jews were required to wear a yellow star, Jews were forbidden to use trams, Jews were required to turn in their bicycles,Jews were forbidden to use any public sports centres, Jews were not allowed to watch any form of entertainment and so on”
Through her diary "The Dairy of Anne Frank", people all over the world are able to see what life as a persecuted Jew was like during World War II; thus gaining an appreciation for the sacrifices people made in the struggle to stay alive.
Quick Facts about the life of Anne Frank
June 12, 1929 - Anne Frank born in Frankfurt, Germany.
Her parents were Otto and Edith Frank
Anne Frank's sister was called Margot
Her father was an officer in the German army in World War I
1933 - Adolf Hitler's Nazi party come to power in Germany
Hitler begins his campaign against the Jews
Anne Frank and her family move to Amsterdam 1933 where they hope to be safe from the Nazi Germans.
May, 1940 - the Germans invade the Netherlands
May 1942 - all Jews aged six and older are required to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothes to set them apart from non-Jews.
Jews are arrested just for being Jews.
June 14 1943 - Anne starts writing her diary
July 6, 1942 - Frank family go into hiding
August 4, 1944 - Their hding place is discovered and they are arrested.
September 3, 1944 - Frank family are transported to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland.
October, 1944, Anne and Margot are transported from Auschwitz to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany.
March 1945 - Anne dies in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, from Typhus
Anne Frank's Diary
Her diary is so important to people today because it tells people what it was like to be a Jewish child growing up in a world where Jews were persicuted. Anne describes in her diary how she felt while she was in hiding, and how it was very hard to survive in such a small living space.
When did Anne receive her diary and what was the occasion?
Anne received on her 13th birthday in 1942, a diary from her parents.
What did she name her diary?
Anne called her diary 'Kitty'.
Why did this diary become so important?
Did Anne intend to have the diary published and why?
Anne Frank did not become famous until after her death in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and after the liberation of all concentration camps. Otto Frank, the only surviving member of the people hiding in the Secret Annex, later had Anne's dairy published.
Credit to
Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK
(I wrote this poem in 1983. A german lady saw me reading this book and came and sat down and talked to me about this time. I couldn't do justice to her words but i hope this allows people to see the horrors that occurred)
In a list
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Condor my Friend, Gosh! brilliant, when I studied History I was blown away by this young girls Diary. And her Courage. well done. xxxx
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Thank you. I have read her diary many times and to speak to this lady who related this tale was amazing. Thanks for reading, sweetie.
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I can't get over the way you can weave a story in rhyme so well. With rhyme and rythem.. Very well done.
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Thanks, Mate. Written a long time ago, but told to me ever earlier. I think it was around 1972 when I met this lady. I don't think I could ever forget her and her words. Thanks for reading.
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Simply outstanding
I have now seen the best. This and others you wrote will be in my favorites.
Thank you for your kind words about my poems,
I am just a simple rhymer.
R.Diem
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Thank you for your lovely words. No, you are not just a simple rhymer. You are an excellent rhymer. I love rhyming poems because I think it brings out the best in people. It's not easy to get the feelings across like in freewrite and therefore more of a challenge. I love your works.
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So sad
You've done an extraodinary job here, my friend. I can still remember the discussions from World History class. Well-informed writer, superb write.
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Thanks, mate. I couldn't really put across in words what that lady said to me but i did my best. I have never forgotten her in all these years. I think that must have been around 36 years ago.
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So poignant!
of a trophy & I certainly hope you'll enter this in a Contest. I saw the original movie "Diary of Anne Frank" & was mesmerized by it. This dear girl had a short & intense life filled with much pain. It was difficult to read this as it brings up so much of what I know about this time of inhumane cruelty & horror! Thanks for this. I noted some things that need to be edited & will get back to you on that! Bravo for this write! 
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Thank you, mate. After going through the poem again, I managed to correct all errors you pointed out and am really very grateful. Thank you so much. (I got my I's right) lol!!!!!!!!!
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Excellent
A wonderful write,the form holds one captivated and carries the poem along at a pace the has the readers eyes longing to find out more.I have seen the film made of this young girls short life . One hopes for everything to turn out right, sadly real life does not give the happy endings so liked by Hollywood
just one little point is there a typo line 15 piece/peace?
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. Yes, I own the book and sometimes, I need to read it to keep reminding me of the horrors that befell her and so many more....and that is not including the pains and tortures inflicted on the military prisoners. That is another horrific tale that should never be forgotten. Yes, It was an error, thank you. I should be more vigilant. My spelling at times is shocking. Thank you so much once again.
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I have read the "diary of Anne Frank" and fully understand the utter cruelty of that time in our history. It is but a part of the wanton destruction caused by the Hitler regime. We say it will never happen again, but it already has, and still the world looked on.Someday we may learn.
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Thankks for reading this, Bob. I think you did the first time i had it on. This time, i added some info. I appreciate your reads.
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