Sapling from the Theresienstadt Tree, Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial Plaza
“There are times when dreams sustain us more than facts. To read a book and surrender to a story is to keep our very humanity alive.”
—Helen Fagin, from a letter recounting the clandestine school she set up in the Warsaw Ghetto. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began April 19, 1943, on the eve of Passover.
From the ghetto,
we rose strengthened by dreams,
bolstered and braced by
possibilities,
we escaped
through stories of hope
and love
determined
to rise.
We fought
for survival
We fought
for our humanity.
We fought
to keep magic alive–
but remembering always
the ghosts.
This is a quadrille for my dVerse prompt, using the word rise. The Theresienstadt Tree seemed a good symbol, especially on Earth Day.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Determined!
Yes. So much courage.
Wow! Such courage and strength. Thanks for the story and the poem.
Thank you for reading!
Wow, a powerful message; so much tamped into 44 wonderful and sad and hopeful words. Passover, Easter and Earth Day; what a magnificent melange
Thank you so much, Glenn. That’s a lovely comment!
Never give up hope
Sometimes it’s all one has.
You are so right
Oh, just perfect!
Thank you!
It is.
Superb! I especially like these lines, which could apply to many a situation, though most fittingly in this ghetto setting:
we escaped
through stories of hope
Thank you so much, Linda!
Yes, I imagine it does apply to many situations.
I really love this, to be able to escape through hope but remembering the ghosts… that is the true account of being a survivor I think
Thank you so much!
I imagine it must be.
Love this message!
Thank you for sharing Helen Fagin’s words, Merril, and for reminding us of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It’s heartbreaking to think that human beings survived on memories and ghosts.
Thank you, Kim. It is tragic and heartbreaking–and those words don’t seem strong enough. My daughter posted something about how Friday night, which was the first night of Passover this year was also the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and then I saw this post about Helen Fagin, so I felt compelled to write about it.
Your poem honors those who fight and also the ghosts ❤
Thank you, Jade. That’s such a nice way to put it!
So many who survived those years in incredibly dreadful conditions were yet able to rise above somehow. You’ve managed to encapsulate their journey in 44 words. Amazing!
Thank you very much, Beverly!
So much truth in this deceptively short poem… Thank you for sharing, and hosting today!
Thank you so much, and thank you for reading and participating!
such a good use of history, timely tribute
Thank you very much!
You put it all together beautifully! (Even if you do criticize my wine choice hahahahaha.
Thank you!
Not criticizing, just commenting. It tastes like cough syrup to me, but whatever you like! Hahaha.
Hahaha, not to me. I think there are liqueurs that people drink that taste like cough syrup. ICK. BTW, my kids requested the Manishewitz. I gave them the choice two days ahead of time.
🙂
Heart wrenching. Thank you for sharing the story of Helen Fagin. You honoured the courage of survivors in a beautiful way. This is powerful….”we escaped through stories of hope and love determined to rise.”
Thank you very much, Mish. I’m pleased this moved you. Her story is moving and inspiring.
This is so powerful. Those ghosts haunt us all. At least I hope they do.
Thank you. Yes, I hope so, too.
a very powerful tribute to traumatic time, your words took me there and their resilience resounds!
Thank you so much. I’m pleased that my words affected you.
you have talent!
Thank you very much!
you’re most welcome 🙂
🙂
The ghosts will continue to haunt us. Perfect theme for Earth day Merrill. Thanks for hosting.
Thank you very much, Grace.
Great words.
Thank you so much!
I was impressed by a feature I heard on NPR. You’ve captured it, here.
Thank you very much, Ken.
Moving toward that better tomorrow we need always be mindful of yesterday. So powerfully expressed here Merill…!
Thank you so much, Rob!
A beautifully chilling poem of pain and hope rising from within!
Thank you very much, Dwight!
Thanks Merril – a necessary reminder of the 19th April 1943. Poetically expressed ..
Thanks so much, Susan.
Stunning – resilience and remembering those that didn’t make it
Thank you so much, Derrick. I’m pleased it made an impact on you.
I like the remembrances of the ghosts at the end.
Thank you, Frank!
Truly powerful Merril.
Thank you so much!
This is a powerful 44… some of the most essential words written for this prompt.
Thank you so much! Much appreciated.