"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.“
Anne Frank
Though horror surround us, still we know
that good and evil, omnipresent though they be,
may end our lives, or leave us all at sea;
yet some tiny act of ours may grow --
and grow, till it ignites a fire at last --
a fire that blazing, may cast its light
into the darkest realms of hate ... and night;
and leave the devils of this world aghast.
Her beliefs were sorely tested in the end,
as concentration camps and typhus proved
too much -- but still her words at last moved
even hearts of stone to soften and unbend.
Her murderers, her captors, could not win
against the legacy of a young girl's pen.
Author notes
I hope Anne would like this, and somehow I am sure she would.
Here's the url to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam:
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=1&lid=2
A contest entry
- What should have been by cricketjeff.
1750 points, ended July 9, 8 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Famous Quotes from Famous Ladies by Keith.
700 points, ended August 23, 19 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think?
Comments
1 - 33 of 33
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One of my more favorite books and whilst in Idaho was surprised to find a memorial in Boise to her, seemed an unlikely place for it yet a touching reminder. The holocaust museum in DC also had me quite affected, it was hard to walk the entire 4 floors. So many children along with adults suffered at the hands of the Nazi's and it is one thing I guess we should remember lest it happen again in war although on smaller scales it still goes on.
C
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Yes ...
I find it interesting that so many bigots today are still discriminating against the same groups that Hitler tried to destroy. I think it shows plainly just what kind of people they really are.
I have a website against genocide. You might like the poems there:
www.voicesforAfrica.homestead.com/
As you say, it could happen again ... and again ... and again, if vigilance fails. Unfortunately, far too many people pay no attention at all to what's happening out in the world around them. -
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Oh I have already been there and bookmarked it as well, yes it is happening again and again, Rwanda, Somalia ... so many places in Africa that have little interest to bureaucrats because they have nothing to offer in the way of oil, Bush would have rode in on a white stallion if there had been oil fields there. Yet he allowed over 3000 children a day to die of AIDS when his own countries companies can make vaccine for as little as 25cents,it's inhuman and abhorrent, Just .7% of any country's economy could wipe debt from these countries, allow them the right to trade fairly and feed families rather than take home 12cents a day and starve. It's easy to be ignorant, bury heads in the sand but far harder to make the people who have much care about those who have not. I realize corrupt governments in these countries make it hard but some are fighting back like Lesotho with their primeminister doing a fine job of turning things around when she came in on a platform of disaster and 200M in debt. No human being should be allowed to starve or die of preventable diseases because of the color of their skin or the wealth of their country...ok I am getting off the soapbox for now
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very moving
What can I say that hasn't been said. I have read her diaries like many and am in awe of such courage
Good luck in the competition
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A beautiful tribute to a truly inspirational heroine. I've been to the Anne Frank house, and it's a humbling experience. No one speaks, and somehow her smile still seems to linger there.
When I get depressed by the evil which still stalks this world of ours, I think of Anne's words:
Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.
And I hold fast to that.
Thanks for your entry. I hope you appreciate that you've made this a difficult contest to judge! -
I am sure Anne would love your tribute to her. It's a beautiful poem.
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Perfect!
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Outstanding
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I think 'Une chanson pour Anne' would be a beautiful title for your poem. This is a powerful penning. It is golden to me. I hope you are feeling a bit better.
Mariana
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Wow, this is so beautiful Thank you for writing such a great tribute to Anne. Yes, the last two lines are so true... The quotation makes a wonderful addition to this poem. Thank you for writing and sharing this poem!
Anne
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I enjoyed this very much. In my junior high school, 'The Diary of Anne Frank' never stayed on the library shelf for more than a few hours before someone else would check it out. I think she would ve been stunned that someone wouldwrite a poem in her honor.
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Wonderful! Great flow!! I'm sure she would be honored!!!
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Beautifully Inspirational!!
"Her murderers, her captors, could not win
against the legacy of a young girl's pen."
Write on, shine on, Poet!!
Peace & Hugs,
xx Cyn xx
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wow....
I've always loved that quote, some may call it being naive, I like to think of it as an unfaltering belief in humanity's better nature. A beautiful write, full of emotion and praise, I'm certain Anne would be honored. Congratulations on your trophy it is well deserved. -
Congratulations on your trophy. This piece exemplifies Anne's unparalleled perseverance. I've heard it once said that "The door to opportunity swings upon the hinges of adversity." and as we all know she had more adversity than most.
BTW, I noticed you're work at OVWA is evident in the correct double dash (distinct from the hyphen) and the "space*elipsis*space"
Good work Jim.
Paul
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The story of Anne Frank is definitly an amazing one. i loved this poem so much. thank you so much for entering my contesnt and best of luck!
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I also feel that no words could measure or ease this pain. A moment of silence and deep sorrow for her and each and every other child, mother, father and infant that died. I cannot understand how the world could be this blind...
Becks
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We live in a very strange world ...
and that's a fact.
Thanks for stopping by.
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This poem is worth more than one read, I've already commented so I can't add any little fellas again.
Congratulations on the bronze.
Sue
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A fine piece, congrats.
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Excellent sonnet, looking into places no-one should ever have had to look
Thanks a lot for the entry and congrats
Jeff
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deep human feelings
Deep you go into Ann's psyche , never broken this innocent soul , pure of
life / she was a white rose in a garden of thorns / evil remains in this world
of ours, always present in little niceties that are veiled ingratitudes /
as prejudice and hate always looking for a scapegoat //but Ann was never
broken till her very end / she was stronger than hate and evil men.
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Wow ...
That's quite a poem there as well.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Wonderful write poet
movingly poignant and inspiring hope at same time...a hard thing to do and shows great skill, exceptional gift.
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I have chills. This is beautiful.
And I am sure she would like this too.
That first stanza was incredibly moving. Phew.
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I thought about giving this poem ...
a French title: Une chanson pour Anne
but then I thought, since it's in a contest, and since many wouldn't understand the French, perhaps I'd best not do that, at least not yet.
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A nice tribute to Anne Frank, and a reminder of the horror that was unleashed in that time. We must always remember. There aren't many survivors left anymore, and I hope their history doesn't die with them. They are very inspiring people, and in spite of the incredible horror they endured, they are for the most part happy. I remember a teacher in high school showing us a film about the liberated camps. The things they found were positively gruesome...mountains of human hair, boxes of human teeth, and other things, each more gut-wrenching than the last.
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I've heard the name, but never knew the story. Thanks for inspiring me to read a rather moving article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Frank
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and leave the devils of this world aghast.
i LIKE THIS CONTRAST SHOOT, CAPS...SORRYcrap i did it again....what I'm trying to say is that this is really quite a deep poem, the underlying tones are quite nice, really a compliment to this whole message, and speaking of which, it is great to be reminded of such a heartfelt journal.
hats off to you
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There this is
It did not show this morning. Very well done, of course, a petrarchian I believe. Yes, Anne influenced a large number of people with her diary, including me in 8th grade when we first read parts of her diary in class.
The most totalitarian repressive government can never stifle the human spirit and desire for freedom.
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You have paid tribute to such a young life with your well chosen words, she was indeed a heroine and at such a young age.
I think she would have liked this poem too.
All the best
Sue
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Well, the truth lingers after so many decades, a little girl remembered for her love of life; the lessons she gave to us all of humanity...captured so very well here, on a day that celebrates liberty and struggle for right...a compelling subject, treated with dignity and love here...PK
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