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This poem is part of the contest:

Neopoet Weekly 09/22/24 to 09/28/24

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Death Camp: Auschwitz

Driven from their ancestral homes,
the gestapo, with guns enforced,
they ruled over, into the night,
in their bodies, vitriol coursed.

Stripped of dignity and clothing,
their belongings sorted in piles.
Last, their ignorant claims of lies
and the most vehement denials.

Jewish population on the streets,
banished to death camps without hope.
shaven heads were mandatory;
disinfectant served as soap!

Many went to chambers spraying Gas,
later fed to huge fire pits,
which coughed up residue left over
from this horrid, German Blitz!

Ashes floating on the air currents,
drifting down like flakes of snow.
Landing on all things of a clear night,
the lights of Auschwitz aglow!

Wet streets fouled with human remains,
oven exhausts pumping ash,
as the Jews were herded like cattle,
treated much like human trash!

About This Poem

Last Few Words: *written on more styx notepad

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Northwestern Wisconsin USA, USA

Favorite Poets: Edgar Allan Poe, William Blake, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Carlos Castaneda, Jim Morrison, the whole of Neopoet and many more.

This user supports Neopoet so it can be free to all

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Comments

neopoet

neopoet

9 months ago

Neopoet AI (premium) - 5-29-23 version

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:

This poem is a stark and vivid depiction of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. It uses strong, evocative imagery to paint a picture of the horrors that were experienced by the victims.

One aspect that could be improved is the rhythm and meter of the poem. While the poem does have a consistent rhyme scheme, the syllable count and stress patterns vary from line to line, which can disrupt the flow of the poem and make it harder to read.

Additionally, the poem could benefit from the use of more specific and concrete imagery. While the poem does use some powerful images, such as "oven exhausts pumping ash" and "Jews were herded like cattle", these could be further developed to create a more immersive and impactful reading experience.

Finally, the poem could also benefit from a more nuanced exploration of its subject matter. The Holocaust was a complex and multifaceted event, and while the poem does a good job of depicting the brutality and inhumanity of it, it could also delve deeper into the individual experiences and emotions of the victims. This could help to humanize them and make the poem more emotionally resonant.

In conclusion, while this poem is a powerful depiction of a horrific event, it could be improved by refining its rhythm and meter, developing its imagery, and exploring its subject matter in a more nuanced and emotionally resonant way.

Please send feedback about Neo (our computer generated critique system) to https://www.neopoet.com/contact

Unca Fez

Unca Fez

9 months ago

The Holocaust

The poem depicts unspeakable horrors that the Nazi regime inflicted upon over 6,000,000 people: men, women, and children. Now, eighty years later, we hear about people who believe it was a hoax and never happened. We hear about people claiming it was an accident. We hear about people who believe it didn't go far enough. And all these people are United States of America citizens. These are the same kind of people that lead Germany down the path that ended in Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auchwitz-Birkenau. Let us pray that history doesn't repeat itself here.

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

9 months ago

Dear Steven,

It is mind boggling to think that the rest of the world were so slow to take action! Think of the many that could have been saved if only we were quicker to organize... I can see it happening again, i we are not careful!

your, Cat

p.s.
I promise, I will not disappear into a blue funk lasting days.

Lavender

Lavender

9 months ago

Death Camp: Auschwitz

Hello, Cat,
A hard read - the most difficult part being that it is all horrifically true. You have put the reader in the reality of it all, using all the senses to describe the raw and painful truth. I used to wonder how such an atrocious time period ever came to be - it must have felt like the end of the world, as it was. Unfortunately, it has become easier to imagine it now. We are at a surreal time period now, and like Steven, I pray history does not repeat itself.
Thank you,
Lx

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

9 months ago

Lady Lavender,

I hate it, that I can imagine it happening again... this time period is unbalanced, as you say "surreal" and it scares the crap out of me! Thanks for reading and commenting on my poems. you are appreciated

*hugs, Cat and eddy styx

Geezer

Geezer

9 months ago

I think...

that your first stanza needs to be clarified.

Driven from their ancestral homes,
the gestapo, with guns enforced,
they ruled over, into the night,
in their bodies, vitriol coursed.

Stripped of dignity and clothing,
their belongings sorted in piles.
Last, their ignorant claims of lies - [last], instead of later, to keep the meter.
and the most vehement denials.

Keep the meter as close as you can, with something this long.

You have been most consistent with an eight-beat meter, try to rearrange
the lines, add stuff or take it away to keep it.

By the way, I hear you about the utter horror of war and the genocide of whole groups and nationalities. It seems to me, that the aliens are avoiding us as long as they can, as we are probably the most warlike world they've ever seen.

~ Geez.
.

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

9 months ago

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your input and time, I agreed with the changes and made them. Maybe we (our planet) will destroy itself? Or be conquered by Aliens with better warfare capabilities? I do not think I will be around (in this form) to see the end, but I can see it coming.

*hugs, Cat
ever, eddy styx

Leslie

Leslie

9 months ago

Cat...

ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT'S ONE HELL OF A POEM YOU DID YOUR RESEARCH IT'S DETAILED AND THERE'S EMOTION INVOLVED GREAT JOB

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

9 months ago

Dear Leslie,

I found a few good web sites and watched the film "Schindler's List" thanks for noticing my work in this! How are you doing?

*hugs, Cat & eddy styx

Clentin

Clentin

9 months ago

Great poem,

Great poem,
A horrible reminder of what we as humans have done to one and another!

A reminder of what dictators can do to a country, how they control the masses! Pray we wont have this in the US!

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

9 months ago

Thank you Clentin,

for reading and commenting. We need to wise up and be aware that something similar could happen here. I am praying it does not!

*hugs, Cat
ever, eddy styx

Leslie

Leslie

8 months 4 weeks ago

Cat...

I thought the poem impressive, but it made me sick. To think of the German bastards breathing air composed of Jewish remains. I guess their genetics in someway combined. I don't think them so disimilar anyway in genetic make up! We wish that the world would wise up and make better decisions. The things that happened at that place could happen in our homeland!

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

8 months 4 weeks ago

Thank you dear friend,

I agree with you that it could happen here...with that grossly ignorant mad man running for office, it could happen again. I sleep uneasily on my pillow. thanks for the read and comment.

*hugs, Cat