Holocaust Poetry #2

Homeland
Lois E. Olena

It was Christmas eve
and there was no room in the inn,
the Oswiecim inn,
so the Arrow Cross
took the children,
barefooted
and in their nighties,
out to the Danube
and filled their little bellies
not with bread
but bullets
flipping them
like tiddlywinks
into the congealing, icy river below.

It was the Red Danube
that night,
choking on the blood
of orphan Jews
whose little Blue faces
floated downstream
touring even all of Europe
until they washed up
on the shores of Eretz Yisrael (Jewish homeland)
and came back to life,
their little blue and white
bodies
raised high,
flapping in the wind.


How is imagery used in this poem?

Imagery is used in this poem of the common Christmas story of the birth of Jesus and thus changing key parts of this common story. The imagery of the "filling their little belies not with bread but with bullets" creates a strong emotional imagery of children being shot down in cold blood.

Discuss the effect of the simile in this poem.
The simile "flipping them like tiddlywinks into the congealing, icy river below" highlights the fact that the people being murdered were children by comparing the dumping of the bodies to playing tiddlywinks. This simile highlights the German ruthlessness.

How is alliteration used in the poem? What is the effect?
Alliteration is used in this poem in "filled their little bellies not with bread but with bullets" the short sharp 'b' sounds in "bellies ... bread ... bullets" highlights the pain and suddenness of their death.

How does the author juxtapose the innocence of the children to the cruelty they experienced?
The author juxtaposes the innocence of the children to the cruelty they are experience by using childish words such as "bellies ... tiddlywinks" these words highlight their childish innocence.

What is meant by 'touring all of Europe'?The "touring all of Europe" relates to the wars all over Europe and the consequent concentration camps built within Europe. The quote relates to a well known fact that Nazis built concentration camps in numerous areas in Germany.