In all the world I never thought my life to turn out so
the vision and pain of a tattered yellow cloth star pinned to my bosom I had one day hoped to outgrow
I would awaken everyday to a life not asked for, forced upon me
a life of destitution and hunger was all I thought I would ever see
So many like me were put to death
each morning I'd awaken praying the day not to be my last breath
Somehow through it all I survived
my faith, my hope and being I thought to never again be tried
Many years passed and wealth and fortune I had gained
by memories of the past I was one day haunted and driven to some quite insane
I had become a tailor you see, one who clothed the rich and more fortunate
then one day I was asked for a piece with bright yellow stars upon it in adornment
My heart sank as my memories digressed
here again I was a child in rags, my life suppressed
How could I have become a tailor to those from past that I had most hated
the pride and love for myself, my hopes and my faith I had let become so deteriorated
I gave up my business that same day, I just walked out
I walked the streets looking at the less fortunate strewn about
I thought to myself that to clothe them perhaps again I could find love
there still was a chance for my salvation to again rise above
I begin picking tattered rags out of other people's disposed goods
I set about sewing hats, scarves, gloves and facial covering hoods
I started giving them away to the less fortunate never charging a cent
many at first took my gesture as some form upon their poverty a way of teasing lament
My fingers many days would be callused and stained with pinpricks
when I was out collecting more rags the more fortunate would poke me with their walking sticks
Still there was nothing the world could throw my way to my course I'd now chosen to change
I once was and am again a part of this society's blind, ignorant and unfeeling made mange
No matter how low my life had again sunk the real meaning of love I had once again found
a simple thank you or the curling of stale broken lips in a smile was the most jubilant sound
To love another you must first learn to love yourself, a lesson sadly many will never in time have learned
as for me I am and have become love, and my angelic wings to float with my kindred yellow stars I have finally earned
(c)2004
~Nikki~
Author notes
Revelations! Ragpicker and emotion Love!
I wanted to stay away from rhyme but after a friend sent me the gif you are viewing it sent my muse to feverant motion with this piece and what you are reading is exactly unedited how it came out...rhyme and all! Now I am not Jewish but being of another persecuted throughout history race I feel their past pain and anguish!
Written June 19th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- everyone deserves edited by NeverBeTheSame.
300 points, ended July 17, 2004, 3 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Very interesting poem, i really liked the story to it, how you could not bear to make clothes with yellow stars and decided then and there to change your life. its all very beautiful. i was surprised to read that you yourself are not actually jewish, you wrote with such depth and feeling as if you'd lived it yourself. i can relate in some way, also being part of a group historically persecuted. very thought provoking piece, good job!
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This was a super great read. Thanks for sharing
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Wise and wonderful
Nikki, the final couplet blew me away, I felt a pressure in my chest from the emotion rising up! This is beautiful, you show how compassion is born in our hearts through difficulty. We can hide from it for years, but when we face our pain, we are free to love. Excellent story and true emotion. Thanks for writing this.
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Oh my!! This was an INCREDIBLE write! And it's so true!! It truly doesn't take much for most of us to have a reminder from chilhood (especially one that would have been so traumatic!) that will pull us up so sharply, and freeze us in our tracks; enough that, just like this man, we might change our very lifestyle! And then there's the issue of loving oneself; that's a toughie, for most of us! But it is soooo very true that we can't fully love others, until we love ourselves. This is just an amazing, awesome write! You're most gifted! This was a joy to read! Good luck in the Contest!!
Paula -
I am glad you liked this it makes me feel proud to know that you and all others who have read this piece understand and feel it!!!! I hope to see some other contstants here soon with their pieces to! This was a EXCELLENT contest and challenge to take part of!
Love, Peace and Hugs A Plenty
~Nikki~ -
sniff tears exactly what i was looking for
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this was FABULOUS nikki! i have studied the concentration camps and for a while read every book from survivors i could find. this piece was truly brilliant! i wish you good luck in this contest!!
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This is just such a lovely and inspirational piece of writing! It is said so often by so many...we must first love ourselves and have peace in who we are...before we can ever really come to truly love another in any real sense of the word. Yet, so many really do not grasp what that means or know how to achieve it.
This was so very enjoyable...I really enjoyed this write!
UB
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Bien.
Hm. I really liked the message, the hidden emotion, and anguish.. I'm glad I read the authors comment, because I usually don't enjoy reading rhyme so strict. But this was done very well. Good job! -
This is quite an inspiring piece. I mean it is truly wonderful. You did a fine job at expressing to the reader. I thank you very much for sharing such wonderful piece. You have a wonderful day and God bless you too. By the way, it was more than a pleasure to read. Keep on coming with them. Oh well, I have to go now and browse some more so I'll just wish you good luck in the contest and hopefully you will win then may be you will bring back with you the trophy and some more great poems. Keep up the wonderful job and it sure was my pleasure to read..........................................peace and love and luck
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My parents were both in Lyon, France during the war. My mother's father was Jewish, so they lived in fear the entire time. This is a wonderful poem you have written here. Outstanding.
Barres* -
That was a wonderful, inspiring poem... I'm glad I clicked on this one. We never hear about deeds of selflessness anymore. It seems that everyone just wants others to pity them.
Wonderful, wonderful job.
Elizabeth
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