Sewer (challenge poem)

First they closed Papa's shop. Then they refused me at school. They took the Rabbis. They boarded up the shuls. Then they started to remove us, relocate us they said. We know better, we knew the truth. We heard the horror stories. We heard about the camps, about the ovens, about the mass graves. Papa tried to get us away. Tried to bribe them, but we just didn't have enough. We knew we had so little time. I saw fear in my Papa's eyes. I saw tears in my Mama's eyes. I saw prayers to G*D on their lips. Then Papa heard of some people heard of a plan, crazy but maybe a way out. So they decided for me. Papa gave them all he had except a Siddur from his Papa and a mezuzah from the door. This he gave to me. He took me to the opening of the sewer, the smell turned my stomach. Climb in he said, what? They will take you to freedom, he handed me his two treasured possession. Keep these for your house, for your freedom, for your children. No, I can’t leave you. We are old, time is short for us, but you are our future. You will survive for us and pushed me into the sewer. The smell made me retched, burned my eyes darkness all around, my coffin I thought. The butcher's son, Shumel led the misfit bunch. I mourned my parents as I walked through the filth. Days dragged on in front of me. I will survive for them! Each night, I kissed the mezuzah and prayed from the Siddur. Each day I tripped, walked and crawled through filth and darkness. We lost so many on the journey and gained two. Two little miracles born in the sewers, in our journey to freedom. Finally the light came, finally we were free. We climbed out of the sewers and into freedom. Today I am old, today is close to my last days. I pass on the mezuzah and siddur to my son I pass on the story to him. I pass on my future.Challenge Description:Imagine you are a jew (other races or groups of people that were executed such as gypsies, homosexuals -etc are acceptable as well)living during World War II. To escape being sent to a concentration camp you & your family (your pick, can be alone, or with family, friends or complete strangers) must go in hiding (yes like Anne Frank) & live in secrecy for the sake of living. Shul is a synagogue Siddur is a prayer book Written April 12th, 2002 © on Apr 12 2002 12:45 PM PST    0 • 9