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Holocaust Poetry
With beauty and with sadness, poetry is a form of emotional expression, which makes this a good medium for describing the horrors of the Holocaust.
"Babi Yar" by Yevgeni Yevtushenko
A poem about anti-Semitism and the author's struggle for pride in Russia.
Collection by Lois E. Olena
Having spent seven years transcribing stories of Holocaust survivors, Olena felt moved to write several poems about the stories she heard.
"Daniel" by Laura Austin
A short poem about a young boy. The end of the poem is heart-wrenching.
"First They Came for the Jews"
Written by Pastor Martin Niemoeller, this is my absolute favorite poem that I think speaks of all society.
Ghetto Poets
The authors of these seven poems are unknown; their work was smuggled out of Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust only had only their initials on them.
"Hitler's First Photograph" by Wislawa Szymborska
When Hitler was a baby, there were no telltale signs of his future evil and notoriety. He seemed just like every other child.
"The Kapos" by Michael Benedikt
A difficult choice - to surrender early or the possibility of being taken away at midnight, at gunpoint. This powerful poem by Michael Benedikt makes you feel the trauma of the choice.
Selected Poems
Over a dozen poems by William Heyden, Paul Celan, and others. My favorite from this list is "Riddle."