November 9, 1938, and into the next day, has come to be known as Kristallnacht or The Night of Broken Glass. Some say it marked the beginning of the Holocaust also known as the Shoah. In our studies: "The 2000 Year Road to the Holocaust" - An interfaith project of the greater Rochester community
http://www.holocaustroad.org/ I'm finding that this road started many years before WWII.
I wrote this poem to try to honor those that suffered and died; honor those that fought to stop injustice against people; and to promote forgiveness and compassion for all people so this may never happen again...
May we all learn to Love our neighbors as ourselves. May we learn to Forgive. May we teach and Live Compassion and Tolerance, May we learn to live in Peace for we are all brothers and sisters of the world. Once we realize and incorborate these things into our lives, Peace may truly have a chance.
Beyond the Clouds of Death
(The Shoah or Holocaust)
Atrocities so horrible
make up the Holocaust
Where people were not people
And humanity was lost
Torture, Death, and Hunger
The Shoah's horrendous shroud
And in the background burning
The fumes of human clouds
To break the spirit and the lives
Of this almighty clan
It was power and insanity
That fed Hitler's plan
The devil came to life these days
the world came tumbling in
People blindly followed
Minds controlled from deep within
Lies and fears and blinded eyes
The massacre kept going
Like drones work was carried out
As hate and fear kept growing
The suffering unbearable
For people once so strong
Now shadows of their prior selves
How did life go so wrong?
Stomachs always grumbling
Little rest from dusk till dawn
A people thought forgotten
Their hope was all but gone
Yet in the bleakest darkest days
Within the souls of some
Remained the faith of ages
Though bodies beat and numb
For silent prayers not silent
They reached to God's own ears
He answered into hearts and minds
Gave courage to ease their fears
Where was God in all this horror?
Is what I hear some say
Just like the dove for Noah
He's there on the bleakest day
Look into the darkest corner
God's there behind the scene
He's teaching some compassion
Opening eyes to all that's been
Stars at night gave Peace to some
As silent prayers went up
Their twinkling light acknowledged
They'd reached God's holy cup
Like manna from the heavens
God is in the rain
Quenching thirsts and washing souls
Relieving some of the pain
Too many people did not survive
The hell that was around
Yet deep inside, lived a strength
A Faith that would astound
To honor those who's hope was strong
We must learn to forgive
In the end God's Law and Love
Will teach us how to live
Remember all the hate that spun
Out of control back then
But focus on God's strength that lived
Inside women, children and men
As in the Exodus of old
Tyrants are crushed and killed
Hope remains inside of those
That know what God has willed
The Promise of a better life
Like a phoenix in the sun
Out of the fires of hate and hell
With Faith in God, we've won
It's hard to see the rainbow
Beyond the clouds of death
Yet, in the deepest part of us
It's in our very breath
Let's heal the wounds of this hell
When insects fared better than man
Douse the hate and breathe upon
Forgiving embers if we can
Let the flames, this time, be from
Compassion and from Love
Melt hate and fear and intolerance
With God's Word from above
So live with God as Moses did
Beyond the trials of man
Teach the past but not the hate
and Honor the Great "I AM"
written with Peace, Hope, Love and Light
by Nina Pauline Ploetz
To:
Acknowledge the Holocaust through the Strength of persecuted people
Morn those that died before their time
Honor the surviving hearts of Faith, to show their Hope survived
Thank all those who fought for Tolerance, Compassion and Love
Teach Peace, Hope, Love and Light to future generations
Let a quiet Healing voice be heard above the crowd of pain
