Poem

What is your initial reaction to this poem?

I feel guilt for the children who were taken by the Germans

How does the author use 'we' in this poem?

The author uses we in the children's perspective

What are the verbs used in the first sentence?

Played, Laughed and Loved

What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?

The verb in the second sentenced was ripped referring to the pain that had happened to the children while the first sentenced represented their lives before the holocaust and how they were joyful.

What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?

This represents the range of people who were taken

What simile is used in the poem and what effect does it have?

The simile is 'like cattle in cars' and it represents how the Jews were treated

How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence?

She represents herself as one of the children pleading for help

If you could communicate to this person, a victim of the Holocaust, what would you want to say? What do you feel that you must do in your life as a response to this poem?

I would want to say that I personally feel the same as they did when I heard about the holocaust and I would try and remove the memory from the victims head. I think that in  my life I should just remember that even if I don't get what I want I can always be grateful that I wasn't a victim of the holocaust and indeed I will remember the children whose dreams and lives were stolen away.