A Man at the Door

I wrote this poem in 9^th grade while I was attending religious school at Gates of Prayer in Metairie, LA. That year, we were focusing on studying the Holocaust. "A Man at the Door" is about a child attempting to understand unimaginable loss. Today, as antisemitism and hatred once again make headlines, the repeated knocks on the door feel painfully relevant. My hope is that this poem reminds us that Holocaust education is not only about the past, but also our responsibility to stand up to injustice in the present.

Grandma, Grandma, I had a bad dream
Certainly you must have heard my scream.

I was sitting with my toys on the floor
When a loud knock was at the door.
A man said Grandpa was caught at prayer
And taken to a jail he knew not where.
When the door closed, I felt a cold wind
And I never saw Grandpa again.

Grandson, wipe away your tears
And pray that the Nazis will disappear.

Grandma, Grandma, I had a bad dream
Certainly you must have heard my scream.

I was sitting with my prayer book on the floor
When a loud knock was at the door.
A man took Father in his robe and Mother in her gown
To visit a work camp in another town.
When the door closed, I felt a cold wind
And I never saw Mother or Father again.

Grandson, wipe away your tears
And pray that the Nazis will disappear.

Grandma, Grandma, I had a bad dream
Certainly you must have heard my scream.

I was sitting with my schoolbooks on the floor
When a loud knock was at the door.
A man took Brother and Sister by hand
To an awaiting van,
Said they were going to a factory
And that he would be back for me.
When the door closed, I felt a cold wind
and I never saw my brother or sister again.

Grandson, wipe away your tears
And pray that the Nazis will soon disappear.

Grandma, Grandma, I had a great dream.
In Heaven, I hope you heard my scream.

I was hiding underneath the floor
When a loud knock was at the door.
A man said the Americans were here
And made all the Nazis disappear.