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Open Poetry #49
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Cari
Member
Posts 411
Englnand

0 posted 2016-09-11 06:34 PM



Warsaw September 1944.

*
*

The woman lights the last candle
Measures time by the stub of wax
How long before the rats grow bolder
Waiting in the fringe shadows
Pink noses raised, inquiring
~
How long since they bricked the sewer
How long since the infant’s last whimper
How long since her breasts ran dry
”Wait Minka, we will return”
~
Echo drops on the floor of slime
The flame of sanity, burning lower
She rocks the covered bundle
Sings a remembered lullaby
~
W górze tyle gwiazd,
W dole tyle miast.
Gwiazdy miastom daj¹ znaæ,
¯e dzieci musza spaæ...


Translation

So many stars above,
So many cities at the bottom.
Stars are giving signs to cities,
That children must go to sleep!
*
*
After the failure of the Warsaw uprising in 1944 the survivors hid in the underground sewers, some erecting false brick walls to avoid the vengeance of the SS who, after searching for survivors sealed the sewers with explosives.


© Copyright 2016 Cari - All Rights Reserved
Elizabeth
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871
Minnesota
1 posted 2016-09-11 08:25 PM


Wow... I can't imagine having to go through all that just to survive. Thanks for another history lesson!
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2016-09-11 10:10 PM


The wonders, the everlasting wondering. When you have been sealed inside the sewers, you can only hold on to yourself, otherwise you will welcome death.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
3 posted 2016-09-12 11:30 AM


I saw movies which haunted me about Warsaw, your poem is thrilling and tearing,

thanks for all the victims that we will never forget


yann

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
4 posted 2016-10-11 06:16 PM


Nice piece of writing...james
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
5 posted 2016-10-11 06:24 PM


Cari, I am reading a book titled, “At the Edge," written by Betty Shreffler. It is about Europe and the wars covering from 1914 to 1945. I am finding it a good read.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Boomer Styles
Member
since 2014-03-02
Posts 194
South Side Of Success
6 posted 2016-10-11 09:58 PM


What people do to people and the reasons behind what they do, they don't even know themselves. Just follow your orders. What a system.

One ladle serves the soup that feeds the mouths of the many.

Ari Squire
Member
Posts 488
In The Phallus Lane
7 posted 2016-10-12 01:06 AM


War brings out the worst of Man and the finest. A somewhat peculiar paradox if the latter can only be produced by the former.

Exceptional poetry considering the historical content.

Loving Linny Jean is poetry.

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