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Poems - Blackened Flowers In The Common Ground
| | Blackened Flowers In The Common Groundby JPerry1980
Blackened Flowers In The Common Ground
14 February 2009
Mortar shells in the distance,
whiskey flask in his hands,
curious dance arisen in his mind,
cold shovel in his callused reflection.
Cold Polish ground below,
as he lay the shovel to the work,
ashes ashes, how they fall down.
Laughing and sipping, how we all soon fall down!
Digging into the dirt,
the last morning's convoy work --
truckload of ashes,
as he lays them around --
setting to the burning the ashes,
Auschwitz exports her final product to the ground.
Here in these shovelfuls a hundred faces,
perhaps a pretty fraulein from Hungarian town,
perhaps an old man who tried to struggle,
perhaps a few still awaiting the cool water of shower, not to come.
He tips back the flask,
knowing that the next to dig will probably prefer some Vodka,
sing their songs in Russian,
and yet curiously the ashes mold together.
Ashes to ashes, how funny it all seems,
for within the rising ashes, we all become the same.
Lifting the pistol from his holster,
mixing with the taste of whiskey there,
he wonders if the next to dig here,
will see the true Europa,
of a common ash ground.
As tanks roll loudly into the Birkenau grounds,
lastly he lays his shovel for the Red Army's coming use,
almost hoping it will serve them as well as he these many years,
and there joins the floating ashes, to rise as one into the air.
-- j.
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| "Blackened Flowers In The Common Ground" | Login/Create an Account | 23 |
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Excellent work here
(Score: 1 )
by spence on Sunday, February 15, 2009 (16:07:09) |
Excellent work here man- I've visited Auschwitz before and the xperience has stayed with me ever since. I wrote one of the first poems I submitted on here on the plane from Krakow following my visit. This poem is a powerful representation of the feeling of the place, nice one, spence
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Excellent work here
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:17:06) |
Thank you, Spence, I've never been to Aushwitz, but I don't know how I would react to being there. That has to be extremely difficult for any of us to confront, to truly see it face to face. What's the name of this piece you mention, I will look it up? Thanks, again. -- j.
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Excellent work here
(Score: 1 )
by spence on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (10:20:28) |
Hello again- the poem's called 'Auschwitz' and it was a sort of collaboration with some of the young people I had taken there. Myself and my colleagues were doing a project around the ultimate cost of racism and prejudice as a reaction to an influx of asylum seekers that had been liberally dumped around the kids' locality- without any explanation or consideration. Twin this with the media frenzy to claim that these refugees were 'spongers' and criminals and pandora's box was well and truly opened. It was horrendous to be frank, so we 'recruited ' a group of 13-18 year olds to go to the concentration camp after a visit to east berlin, (where the german govt put their refugee quota), and krakow. It was probably the most emotional week of my life! I spent much of my own youth fighting fascism in street fights and protests, but after this visit I finally understood how evil the many faces of prejudice are. Sorry for the deep and meaningful reply- it still hits a nerve to talk about it all! spence
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wow...this is SUCH a
(Score: 1 )
by Awkward on Sunday, February 15, 2009 (19:25:21) |
wow...this is SUCH a real poem, in a sense that its imagery is sooo vivid and like, alive
brilliant work
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wow...this is SUCH a
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:28:21) |
Thank you, Awkward. I appreciate the compliment, and look forward to reading through more of your talented work as well. -- j.
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very moving and real
(Score: 1 )
by Nudge on Monday, February 16, 2009 (03:00:10) |
very moving and realistic, my kind of poem
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very moving and real
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:33:15) |
If it's true, than it should move you -- either to being pissed at it or loving it or hating it, anything with passion has to be brought out of us. If a writing we present doesn't have passion, what has it? Thank you so much. -- j.
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Literally the only r
(Score: 1 )
by jcjp on Monday, February 16, 2009 (08:11:03) |
Literally the only reason I'm not giving it a 10 would be because it was about the entire situation surrounding WWII. (getting a little bit sick of it)
Beautiful imagery; can almost see the trucks/convoys and your description of events is impeccable. Can definitely tell you planned to write this beforehand.
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Literally the only r
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:32:11) |
I've actually studied history for years, and have always been fascinated with the age of time. There is so much material there that really needs to be presented, so much more that must be said. Thank you. -- j.
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dudes.
i´m from au
(Score: 1 )
by looky on Monday, February 16, 2009 (09:21:08) |
dudes.
i´m from austria....
do i have to say more?
(so...also kinda sick of the theme- not only in poetry)
BUT
very well written and very touching,so h eres for ya  *
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dudes.
i´m from au
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:31:03) |
What does being from die Osterreich have to do with the importance of history? I do appreciate the comment though, thank you for stopping by. -- j.
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Least we forget the
(Score: 1 )
by maryanns on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 (15:00:56) |
Least we forget the ashes of the past, unforgivable actions by fascists in command. I see by the comments some care to forget. Well done, JP. Keep 'um coming, friend. Mary Ann
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Least we forget the
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (00:29:30) |
We can never forget; we must never forget. The Holocaust was one of the greatest travesties of our world in recorded history, and we must never, never, forget. I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment, as your thoughts are most appreciated. -- j.
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A piece of history t
(Score: 1 )
by VonBear on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 (20:31:53) |
A piece of history that should be retold again and again. Excellent job so much emotion and imagery distilled to the point.
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A piece of history t
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (00:03:40) |
I appreciate the comment, Von. We have to take it one day at a time in our lives, try to make the best of each day that we have, but also we must take the past with us, to ensure that it does not become the future. Thank you. -- j.
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I think you have tru
(Score: 1 )
by Melly on Thursday, February 19, 2009 (00:54:35) |
I think you have truly captured the feeling of history here. The devastation and the atrocity of the death camps.. History well written in this piece. Be proud.. Melly
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I think you have tru
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (00:05:02) |
Melly, I am proud to be able to present this story here within this piece, as atrocious as the event was in every way, we can still ensure that it is told as often as possible, to never be forgotten. Thank you. -- j.
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Your writting is soo
(Score: 1 )
by stella on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 (10:43:23) |
Your writting is soooo vivid. I know this probably doesn't make sense but this scene played out before me in black and white. I could almost feel the dampness in the air and smell the ashes.
And, NO, we should never forget this dreadful time in history. You really did a great job with this one!
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Your writting is soo
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (00:06:08) |
Stella, you warm my heart with your thoughts. I think any good poem or story should take us to the place within it, for good or bad, it should be a journey unfolding within the words. I also dreamed this piece in black and white. Thank you, again. -- j.
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Love the title JP an
(Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Friday, February 27, 2009 (00:58:07) |
Love the title JP and the depth of emotion that grows out of the poem.
Cheers......Harry
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Re: Love the title JP an
(Score: 1 )
by JPerry1980 on Sunday, June 14, 2009 (12:16:28) |
Harry, I am so sorry, I had completely missed your message here. It seems GP failed me in notifying me of your comment. Thank you, Harry, for your thoughts. It is a powerful subject, as such I don't think any of us can really do those moments in those years true justice. But we can put ourselves into those moments and imagine for a moment what it may have been like. Thank you, again, dear friend. -- j.
 Added on: 14-Feb-2009 | Hits: 1253 |
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