Sunday, November 8, 2009

Beyond the Clouds of Death (the Shoah or Holocaust)

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