Bobbie Troy’s poem, Words of Life, appeared as part of Contributor Series 6: A Currency of Words in October 2010. In Bobbie’s own words: “When we hear about the Holocaust, it is usually in terms of millions of people suffering horrible deaths. But some of those people did survive. How did they do it? This poem is from the point of view of just one person who represents the millions who were in the death camps.”
Surviving Auschwitz
By Bobbie Troy
when the guards removed my clothes
they thought they took my soul
but I managed to hide it
in an invisible pocket
when night came
I retrieved my soul
from its hiding place
and used it like a blanket to cover
my naked, starving, dying body
Beautiful and moving. Thankyou for an amazing poem.
Great poem, tells it like it was – how anyone can deny the Holocaust is beyond me.
This is a very moving poem, Bobbie. It made me cry. I once saw the many photos a WW II vet, who was a family friend, took when he helped liberate the camps.
Bette
Perfect insight into how a soul survives the toughest test in the world. Extremely well done. This poem made me feel that it was written by a real survivor of the concentration camps.
Did I miss something? Just those half-dozen lines? But the last line spoke volumes; true, how anyone can deny it is unbelievable. I’m sorry the lady (can’t recall her name) didn’t receive the prize instead of Gore couple of years ago for her work in saving the Jews; she pretended to be a plumber/mechanic but was really a doctor or nurse and treated so many of the wounded; she had a German shepher in back of her truck that would bark loudly at the guards, so they’d wave her on in without searching her.
Less is more
Wow, thank you everyone. I think this is the most powerful poem I’ve written to date, and I’m glad you appreciate it.
It is very difficult to explain one’s hardship feelings to others, and to explain someone else’s feelings is quite extraordinary. This poem is true poetry.
Wonderful poem. The strength and resilieancy of those who survived the camps is remarkable. This poem is a tribute to them, as well as, those who perished. We must guard against it ever happening again.
Very moving poem Bobbie! As a former teacher of Holocaust Studies I know the stories of survivors and also the effects of the Holocaust on Survivor descendants even to this day. NEVER AGAIN !
Beautiful, inciteful poem. How is it that some people can be so strong in such unspeakable conditions.
I agree Bobbie, it’s your best so far.