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Anne Frank (1929-1945)

Anne the face of doves and ravens,
Anne who rides the unicorn in paradise,
Anne whose soul bleeds on the page
To burn the eyes of the inquisitors
In their malignancy of hate-
As long as there is feeling on this earth
And catacombs are filled with slaughter
History will chew on the hearts
Of those bestial apes of unholiness.

Again we spin out of control
Choosing madmen to lead us-
It is Anne who holds the shield,
Anne the innocent, the pure,
With the voice of a little bird,
Words made of children’s tears.

Anne, your diary of goodness
In the centuries of savagery,
Your cherished life, will guide us-
Go tell it on the highest mountain,
For now and all times;
Yours is the suffering
Which can salvage love.

Last few words: 
In response to the recent murder in Pittsburg. Her diary is considered one of the most referred to books in the 20th century. This is one of a collection of 21 poems of people that have influenced my life. It just seemed timely to post it today.
Editing stage: 

Comments

This poem does the talking while Nazis do the stalking
Some beautiful and achingly vivid passages here !
The subject alone so incredibly heart wrenching

Please understand my paradigm for a review especially with a writer like yourself that I admire is not so much about formal poetic structures but more about how to squeeze every last bit of power from language towards heightening drama i.e. I shall use some examples that are to me at least more evocative of pure imagery as in cinema or picture making based of course on my own biases if you will indulge me,in other words not to tell it literally, but to paint it

In their malignancy of hate-...……ex: infestations of black jawed beasts

Please do not think of my example as the remedy to heighten the piece, but rather to offer an approach as in image making
In fact you use this very device in the beginning of the piece and it feels like the energy needs to picked up higher in the end

Anne the face of doves and ravens,
Anne who rides the unicorn in paradise,

But to me the piece flattens a bit as you move through the middle to the end just when it needs to explode or seduce or crush or something
"Yours is the suffering
Which can salvage love."
My own feeling is the last lines remain to tepid..... Make the reader cry.

I learn through dialog, exchanging ideas, understanding the psychology and cultural context of another and am becoming aware that poetry even in terms of style, never mind content is as political as anything else

Having said all of that its a beautiful write!

this site more than any online site I've seen really tries to engage thoughtful comments, like in a real workshop. So it's that feedback that makes it work. I've noticed some other sites to post poems, all you get is a thumbs up, "loved your poem" and all that, even if the poem is the worst hallmark card level. They seem to be mostly Millenials, and they all write the same.
I once posted a poem on one and noticed in an hour 60 other poems were posted..one a minute! How is anyone ever going to find your work, and who has the time to sift through it? So this site is unique, having a core of subscribers mostly really interested in the craft. Best some of us really try to say something constructive or why the poem was good. I'd rather have one bad review with suggestions than 50 thumbs up.
So thanks for your comments on this poem, first time i shared it, and i will very much consider your suggestions. I did have problems with the closing and agree this one needs a more blood in the game.

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

author comment

I share your sentiment having spent the last 3 years on other platforms There's enormous good will and reciprocity here. Its very special!

It's interesting what in our culture becomes mythologized or canonized. It does seem like the juxtaposition of Anne Frank with the Nazis is effective, considering her innocence and their barbarity. I feel like you capture that well in your poem. There are some great lines, like "As long as there is feeling on this earth / And catacombs are filled with slaughter / History will chew on the hearts / Of those bestial apes of unholiness." It makes sense that tyrants and facists want to burn books, because they are exposed as history's monsters. This is a nice ode to her and her diary.

Great and timely lines, Mark.
Anne is one of my influential, character forming people. Her tiny voice, simple lines, the way she did not judge her fate contrasted with the absurd of her reality. I have read the book very early in my life, it made me ask the question WHY for the first time and it was the first time I did not hear any answers and started to doubt if everything can be explained

IRiz

Me too. A very strong impression on us when we are young and old. The events in Pittsburgh prompted me to post this poem
Thanks for the comment

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

author comment
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