What If

a poem for Holocaust remembrance, blessed by the memories of Anne Frank and Margot Frank

                      

　

What if her ordeal Anne Frank would have survived

to recover grieve and grow a writer be

to blossom traumatized although broken thrived

　

At a cafe in Paris to sit and write

prose poetry stories drama fiction truth

in what formats would Anne Frank have shared her light

　

If her sister Margot would have lived as well

moved to Israel and became a midwife

would Anne write to her sister with news to tell

When Margot was asked what she wanted to be

she always said a midwife in Palestine

if she had lived she'd likely been Israeli

　

When people asked them what they wanted to be

Anne and Margot Frank had specific answers

now safety be for all in their memory

Of course a person is more than job and place

but the Frank girls were brought up to know their minds

their murders were part of a massive disgrace

Six million Jews were killed by the Nazi beast

ten million Chinese were slaughtered by Japan

forty million deaths in World War II at least

With awareness of this vast calamity

let grandeur of scale be reserved for the good

while malice shrinks itself deliberately

In memory of Anne and Margot's young souls

let there be safety peace opportunity

let all striving youth have a chance at their goals

For the places that drew them reward abound

let thoughtful words be writ in Paris cafes

for Israel and Palestine peace be found

In the Frank girls' names a creative rebirth

a renaissance of protection well being

co-existence for all on this planet earth

Author's Note

My poetry group was assigned: write a poem in terza rima, meaning three lines in each stanza, with the first and third rhyming. This was a new verse form for me. I used eleven syllables in each line.

Reviews

[alanwgraham]

Well done Evyn for this impressive poem on such an important subject. It is important that each new generation be reminded of Anne's life and fate. Also to be aware of the innocents living and dying at the hands of all the oppressive regimes around the world. In the face of this we can seem helpless.
Take care
Alan

[Evyn Rubin]

Thank you, Alan, and you take care, too.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

This is beautiful
It’s inspired me to reread the book 📕

[Red Brick Keshner]

Indeed, 'What if?' The sacrifice of many should have made more of an impact on us all, goyim and Jew alike. The innocents bearing the greatest testimony to why we are put on this planet. What touched me most as I entered Anne Frank's house was the feel of the wooden walls to touch and the wallpaper to sight, wondering if these where the textures she grew familiar with in her 'lockdown.' Impactful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing. /Frederick

[emmajoy]

Having twice visited the Frank's house where they kept hidden for two years, read Anne' diary plus a book giving further details of what happened to the family PLUS, the fact that they were virtually given to their invaders by a neighbour - I can only thank you for using the terza rima assignment to salute them and others who like them, didn't escape hellish persecution and even worse, the gas chambers.

Your words are more than finely put and your obvious sympathies shine linguistically empathic. Feel your heart beats in tune with your metre.

[Evyn Rubin]

Thank you very much.

[emmajoy]

You're very welcome. Don't doubt many readers will agree.

[Chris]

Did the form fit your thoughts or force how your thoughts had to be? I'm curious.

[Evyn Rubin]

Thank you for the good question. I did not bend or distort my thoughts to fit the format. But a few times I seemed to be oversimplifying, so I had to tackle the same thought again in an additional stanza. The format influenced the style of my voice, the narration, but didn't alter the content of thought.