My girls' names both commemorate those who prematurely slept or who lost those them. Solarized etc. photograph by author.
This is an updated summary to get my historical facts in order. First, I will say that I am married to the son of a survivor whose extended family of 8 all perished. The camps were in Germany and Poland too; however the Polish camps were not operated by the Polish government. Perhaps a more accurate title would be N of Europe. I am aware, by the way, that genocide was not practiced in the U.S., so I do not mean to lessen the Holocaust. Still, African-Americans have had their share of hell. I have used the slur here because I think it will resonate with Americans who know our horrendous history concerning those of color. I have imposed a scheme on this one and don't know if it has a name. Repeat last line, repeat next to last, repeat third to last. Though men were victims too, my understanding is the women and children went together, separate from men. I do not know if the assonance/alliteration and false rhyme of ceiling/alien/inhaling/heaven effectively drives this poem (also charred/dark/squallid). Again, the use of the horrid N word is to make a point about others' world views, not my own. Obviously, "dark and "squalid" are not my own take either. Interestingly and poignantly, the swastika rotated the other way was originally a symbol of good luck. I would appreciate feedback as to the title. I took it from a phrase I once heard (and I found out today there is a website using this title; I found out from a reviewer). And also, by the way, I am aware that the Jews were not the only victims during the Holocaust; in all, 11 million succumbed. I have two movies to recommend: one is Schindler's List, but it is mild as compared to the six-hour Shoah.
Niggers of Poland
We were the niggers of Poland
pearl skin hiding hearts
squalid and dark --
the ovens charred us clean.
The ovens charred us clean,
women, children
frantic, freezing
flailing after breathing.
Frantic, freezing,
thrusting children up as though
to heaven, not a ceiling
alien air heaving.
Thrusting children up
then collapsed, sprawled:
extinguished families of night
sleeping swastikas all.
Copyright Julianza Shavin 2008
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Reviews of "Niggers of Poland"
Reviewed by Sean Baird (Reader)
Reviewed on May 18, 2009
Julie, now that you've linked Jews in Poland to the African slave experience you need to come full circle and write a poem about Jews in Venice selling Poles and other Slavs (the word slave comes from the word slav) as slaves to Muslims in the Middle East. Only when a complete and honest account of ones crimes along with their sufferings will real truth and enlightenment have a chance.
Julianza, your poem is riveting -- raw with emotion and pain -- yours is the only poem I have seen in my short time in the den on this subject matter -- In 2006 I penned a poem on the same subject, titled, "Tales of the Walls", which I will share with the den sometime -- more needs to be shared to keep the horror of this unimageable era in history fresh in the minds of the children of the world lest it be lost to history -- peace to you -- JMW
Julie, I am moved again by your words and your incredible talent.
The horrors of which you write should not be forgotten for fear
that they be repeated, though I hope that the peoples of the world
will never allow again such hatred and mass destruction of precious
life. As to the N word, it is horrific in itself but in this context
essential. Love, gene.
I am simply sad that your write would ever be thus inspired. What an indictment on this world. What do I write? Nothing will do justice to what you express dear Julianza. Love and best wishes,
Julie, your precise and economical use of just the right words makes for one of the most powerful poems II have read -- hard-hitting and unsentimental. Bravo!
Such power in these haunted/haunting lines ... over 6 million lives? How can we forget? Man's inhumanities to man ...
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Reviewed by Keith Rowley
Reviewed on October 19, 2008
Hi Julie,
Welcome to Authorsden.
Firstly, the power of your words is enhanced by the terse metric of the rhyme. I feel strongly about the world consigning the horror of the holocaust to fading memory. It sounds trite these days, but we really need to keep the memory alive.
Secondly, I have great sympathy and empathy for Cynth'ya's viewpoint with respect to the use of words with pejorative overtones. But I do not believe that such words should not be used in works such as yours that place them in the context of human experience and suffering, highlighting the inhumanity that led to their ultimate derogatory meaning. We have much the same issues here in South Africa.
Speaking for myself only, your words wound me through the great empathy I harbor for all victims of brutality, and the effect would be lessened were you to take Cynth'ya's advice.
But there again, my family and forebears have never been subject to the horrors of slavery or the holocaust. Peace be with you both.
Reviewed by Flying Fox Ted L Glines (Reader)
Reviewed on October 19, 2008
Historians will know that this particular use of the N-word refers to its directly translated usage by German Gestapo and S.S., in speeches and in correspondence, and by famous writers who have chronicled the events of that period of racism and domination and extermination of the Jewish people. In essence, usage of the N-word (and the J-word) was not the worst thing that happened to them, but there is no stronger word, in either case, to depict the heart-stopping hatred which was leveled against them. One can get an up close and personal feeling of this at http://damnniggersofpoland.ytmnd.com/, an oddly anti-Bush website (?) which will shock you, no matter what your race. And there are many other sites which will shock you even worse.
And, yes, the extermination of Jews was not limited to within the boundaries of Germany, just like the racist killings of Blacks was not limited to America and South Africa. And it never was a vocabulary problem to those who were being killed. Hatred and fear is about gut feelings within predators and victims. The sounds or words of a predator cannot be equated with his teeth, nor with the agony of those slain ones.
Julie is a quite accomplished artist whose use of images can move people directly, as I am sure this thread will show.
Welcome to the Authors Den: Since I come from a time in America that did and said verbally and spiritually destructive things to human beings all made equal in the sight of God, and...given the fact that we have a man of both African and American-Irish background running for the highest political office in the nation, I would love to first note that your poem is very vivid to say the least. It shows the disenfranchisement that a few are trying to maintain with political power. It also shows in M-W.com online dictionary the following:
Sometimes people don't realize the power of words...the spirit of this poem may be going against the Terms and Conditions of this website due to the following description of a word I refuse to type with hands that were designed to uplift in all they create....
The word you use is as follows, fact by fact:
Pronunciation: \ˈni-gər\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of earlier neger, from Middle French negre, from Spanish or Portuguese negro, from negro black, from Latin niger
Date: 1786
1. usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a black person.
2. usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a member of any dark-skinned race.
3: a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons <it's time for somebody to lead all of America's niggers…all the people who feel left out of the political process — Ron Dellums
I encourage you to read the article: Google: "The Willie Lynch letters." Strongly suggest that you and others educate yourself on history that is a crime against humanity and the soul, for profit and greed.) If words do not bring unity, division and demise are the result, effecting the very ones who promote such words.
Again, welcome to the Authorsden. There is another writer you should read about who has numerous accolades: His name?
Aberjani.(Search his site alphabetically her on the authorsden.)
Read article called "The day the word "N. . . . r" Entered My Life."
Also please read: Why I Cried When Obama Received the Presidential Nomination." Posted Friday Aug. 29, 2008. (EXCERPT from that article):
Victor Sejour, Josephine Baker, and W.E.B. Du Bois are names that stand out in the annals of history because of their achievements and fame. There are many thousands more who are not so well known but who, like them, were either forced out of their homeland by the designations of slavery, or later on second-class citizenship, automatically applied to black lives at the time. Or who exiled themselves because such exile was preferable to living in constant fear of being lynched or in constant despair over the dehumanizing practices of American apartheid..."
Remember Julie, words either heal, or destroy. There is no in-between no matter how many ways some may twist the terminology "creative license."
From a proud American and world citizen,
cynth'ya lewis reed
From First Love to its destructive end and on to new beginnings, Mary Angela Nangini's poems explore the birth and death of a relationship. The powerful poems are presented in two parts with an introduction to her next book My Ontario Beautiful. (Th
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The horrors of which you write should not be forgotten for fear
that they be repeated, though I hope that the peoples of the world
will never allow again such hatred and mass destruction of precious
life. As to the N word, it is horrific in itself but in this context
essential. Love, gene.
Regis
Karen
Such power in these haunted/haunting lines ... over 6 million lives? How can we forget? Man's inhumanities to man ...
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Welcome to Authorsden.
Firstly, the power of your words is enhanced by the terse metric of the rhyme. I feel strongly about the world consigning the horror of the holocaust to fading memory. It sounds trite these days, but we really need to keep the memory alive.
Secondly, I have great sympathy and empathy for Cynth'ya's viewpoint with respect to the use of words with pejorative overtones. But I do not believe that such words should not be used in works such as yours that place them in the context of human experience and suffering, highlighting the inhumanity that led to their ultimate derogatory meaning. We have much the same issues here in South Africa.
Speaking for myself only, your words wound me through the great empathy I harbor for all victims of brutality, and the effect would be lessened were you to take Cynth'ya's advice.
But there again, my family and forebears have never been subject to the horrors of slavery or the holocaust. Peace be with you both.
And, yes, the extermination of Jews was not limited to within the boundaries of Germany, just like the racist killings of Blacks was not limited to America and South Africa. And it never was a vocabulary problem to those who were being killed. Hatred and fear is about gut feelings within predators and victims. The sounds or words of a predator cannot be equated with his teeth, nor with the agony of those slain ones.
Julie is a quite accomplished artist whose use of images can move people directly, as I am sure this thread will show.
Ted
Welcome to the Authors Den: Since I come from a time in America that did and said verbally and spiritually destructive things to human beings all made equal in the sight of God, and...given the fact that we have a man of both African and American-Irish background running for the highest political office in the nation, I would love to first note that your poem is very vivid to say the least. It shows the disenfranchisement that a few are trying to maintain with political power. It also shows in M-W.com online dictionary the following:
Sometimes people don't realize the power of words...the spirit of this poem may be going against the Terms and Conditions of this website due to the following description of a word I refuse to type with hands that were designed to uplift in all they create....
The word you use is as follows, fact by fact:
Pronunciation: \ˈni-gər\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of earlier neger, from Middle French negre, from Spanish or Portuguese negro, from negro black, from Latin niger
Date: 1786
1. usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a black person.
2. usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a member of any dark-skinned race.
3: a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons <it's time for somebody to lead all of America's niggers…all the people who feel left out of the political process — Ron Dellums
I encourage you to read the article: Google: "The Willie Lynch letters." Strongly suggest that you and others educate yourself on history that is a crime against humanity and the soul, for profit and greed.) If words do not bring unity, division and demise are the result, effecting the very ones who promote such words.
Again, welcome to the Authorsden. There is another writer you should read about who has numerous accolades: His name?
Aberjani.(Search his site alphabetically her on the authorsden.)
Read article called "The day the word "N. . . . r" Entered My Life."
Also please read: Why I Cried When Obama Received the Presidential Nomination." Posted Friday Aug. 29, 2008. (EXCERPT from that article):
Victor Sejour, Josephine Baker, and W.E.B. Du Bois are names that stand out in the annals of history because of their achievements and fame. There are many thousands more who are not so well known but who, like them, were either forced out of their homeland by the designations of slavery, or later on second-class citizenship, automatically applied to black lives at the time. Or who exiled themselves because such exile was preferable to living in constant fear of being lynched or in constant despair over the dehumanizing practices of American apartheid..."
Remember Julie, words either heal, or destroy. There is no in-between no matter how many ways some may twist the terminology "creative license."
From a proud American and world citizen,
cynth'ya lewis reed