Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

poem-offering March 23, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:33 am
Tags: , ,

In Latin

holocaustum

means ‘burnt offering.’

In World War 2

the Nazis offered

six million souls

to what god?

What appeasement

did they think

they were buying

at such a cost?

There can be no

atonement with

an artificial

sacrifice.

 

 

25 Responses to “poem-offering”

  1. thecookinghobbit's avatar ajungleofwords Says:

    Love this, so powerful and thought-provoking

  2. Very deep. Soul searching. I believe the Nazi’s executed 12 million if you count the physically/developmentally disabled, homosexuals and any others who did not fit into their Aryan nightmare. I’m not much of a hell and brimstone person but I truly believe all the Nazis, skinheads and right wing bigots are or will have their place with satan and his demons. Burning forever with no hope of rescue.

  3. Blessed are those gone before us

  4. Fiza's avatar xoxosanaz90210 Says:

    Love this piece, a lot. It is so powerfully expressed, and the history behind it amplifies it. I wrote a piece titled Holocaust too! Same thing, but on a symbolic level.

  5. Awesome and powerful!

  6. Duke's avatar Duke Says:

    Are these thought coming from cold weather or hot weather, regardless its very good.

    • You know, in Canada, things are almost always prefaced somehow by the weather. 😉 In this poem, not so much. Glorious weather you’re having in Arizona right now, I see.

      • Duke's avatar Duke Says:

        I learned to water ski in Canada. I think I was just 16 at that time. After that fishing trip, fishing here was not worth the trouble. We have lots of folks that spend six months here in the winter and then go back.
        We pay dearly in the summer for all the glorious weather.
        Regards

      • We went to Phoenix in December to see what it’s like for just that reason. Hubby is pondering assorted retirement options. I don’t think I want to be stuck in one place every year though. I’d rather spend time in different places around the world. Shuswap Lake where I live is the kind of lake you probably learned on. We have 1000 km of shoreline around the deep mountain lake. It’s a pretty beautiful place in all 4 seasons. It’s been a weird winter, but it’s over now.

  7. Cryptic Garland's avatar suchled Says:

    Shawn, We in Australia like Canadians first and then look at the detail. I loved your holocaust poem. It made me think of Yevteshenko’s Babi Yar. Other poems about relationships also run through my heart like a hot wire. I wrote poems 40 odd years ago. I’ve only ever published one. It’s on my blog called “Silences” I hope you never write one like it.

  8. A Wanderer's avatar solankichandni19 Says:

    Reblogged this on Chandni.

  9. Amanda Banks's avatar Amanda Banks Says:

    Hmm, powerful, thank you. Re-read it several times to let it sink in as it deserves.

  10. ggmystique's avatar ggmystique Says:

    Wow, moving. I did not know the Latin.. very interesting thank you for sharing. How could a whole world of people let that happen? Thank you for writing and posting this thought provoking piece

  11. This is excellent.


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