A Poetic Finale
Lesson (printable) PDF version »
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Don Leibold,
Loyola Academy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A NOTE ON TIME
In theory, this lesson can be done in five 50-minute class periods. However, many factors may cause the lesson to take longer. In my experience, I have noticed student motivation increase right before a deadline. If students seem motivated and you can give them more time, do so.
STUDENT WORK SAMPLES
Forced
Forced to be prisoners
Nazis not willing to be listeners
Thinking they were visitors
Hearing their people’s cries of surrender
Feeling no other thought but neglection
Hoping to be sent in the right direction
Having no one there for protection
Made weak from labor
Hearts full of deception
Emotions in a collision
Forced to be in a prison
D. Rios
* * *
Anja
A victim of the Holocaust
A prisoner of Hitler
Trying to stay alive by
Eating other people’s bread.
A victim of the Holocaust
Her husband Vladek helping her,
Saving his bread
To give to her and
Working hard in the kitchen.
A victim of the Holocaust
Free at last
But still remembers being
A victim of the Holocaust.
Inspired by Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman
M. Arredondo
* * *
Jews and Nazis
Arrival
Surprised, taken
Undressed, tattooed, confused
Jews, captured, Nazis, violating
Men, women, children
Killed, survived
Holocaust
I. Rivera
Words That Hurt
Hey! You! Stop!
Stop! Or I will kill you!
Schnell! Schnell! Schnell!
Stop! Jews!
Shut up!
Hey! You! Stop!
Who were you talking to?
N-nobody.
Get inside.
Eins! Zwei! Drei!
The gas chamber!
Halt or we’ll shoot!
Go away! I don’t want to
get involved!
We thought Hitler finished
you off!
Go away! Jew! This is our
bakery!
This is a found poem. I borrowed words from Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman.
A. Hernandez
* * *
