by Philip Shamplina

 

Holocaust Memorial Day

We stood in silence, nothing more to say

Remembering what has happened in the past

And the long shadow, it did cast

 

Gathered together with survivors

Realizing what divides us

Hatred for others who are seen as different

Destruction is their bent

 

Not one person would they miss

And not one trick did go amiss

To the gas chambers and the hiss

Crowded into cattle trucks

Treated worse than animals and muck

 

Today we remember those terrible days

But has it changed? No – not in many ways

Anti-Semitism still exists,

And light-hearted banter must not be dismissed

 

As a throw away word, supposedly said in a joke

Deep down, anger is what they spoke

Is it ignorance or deep-rooted hate

That they have been introduced to by their mates?

 

But what is needed is education

And to discuss the segregation

We are all G-d’s children, so let’s teach the next generation

And respect others who might not be of their nation

 

Let’s learn from this, on this Holocaust Memorial Day

That hate is not the correct way

 

 

Copyright Philip Shamplina 2020

 

 

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