Red Wedged-Heel Shoe

Pantoum, written about a picture taken of a piles of shoes at a concentration camp during WWII...For a contest on PoetrySoup since May 6th is a day of rememberance...

On top of the pile___shoes upon shoes

One lone wedged-heel red shoe that gives clue

That she knew what her fate would be soon

Aware her soul__spirit would take flight

 

One lone wedged_heel red shoe that gives clue

The owner was last one to die the death

Aware her soul__spirit would take flight

Memories filled her every thought

 

The owner was last one to die the death

Terror__ horror with every breath

Memories filled her every thought

Of family, friends, life, love__children

 

Terror, horror, with every breath

Because she knew what her fate would be soon

Same as family, friends, love__children

On top of the pile__shoes upon shoes

Author's Note

Written in response to a picture about the Holocaust of the Jewish people during WWII for a contest...There was these piles and piles of shoes at a concentration camp....Each shoe or pair of shoes had a story to tell...

Reviews

[just rose.]

An incredibly difficult theme to take on, and you do so with poignancy and respect and recognition for the woman'sdark fate. My favorite thing about this piece is the way in which you begin and end on the same line, which suggests a sort of closed circle. The notion of objects as expressions of the persons who owned them fascinates me. This poem is a tribute to all that was lost.

[Ruth]

This is incredibly moving! I have wanted to put something like this into words, never managed it, you have beautifully succeeded:) I am moved by this love xx

[Charles]

A very good pantoum - I never try the things myself because they're so complicated (with all the repeated lines and so on). This is very tight, follows the form very well and is easy to read. The only thing that would make it better for me would be to understand how the 'lone wedged-heeled red shoe' would yield a clue that the shoe's owner knew her fate. What am i missing? Technically, a very sound effort.