The Untold Perspective

By Rachel Kessler

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Nazi

Jew

I had no idea what I was getting into

But anything sounded better than how I was living

At first I was told to relocate

But that was only the beginning

We were misled

I was financially struggling 

Were the inferior to blame?

I saw propaganda posters

Like I was a pawn in some game

We didn’t know what to believe 

I thought I was going to be supervising at a labor camp

Not be ordered to kill

I thought I was going to be forced to work

Not starved until I was ill

We were deceived 

Separating children from their parents

Eating away at my soul

I did not know where my mom was

I was no longer whole

We couldn’t recognize ourselves

I hated what I was doing

I had no will to live

I was a walking corpse

I had nothing left to give

We wanted to die

I told the SS Chief I was going to quit

He said he would hurt my wife

When I was too tired to work they would beat my dad  

How was this my life?

They threatened our families

I would just turn on the gas

And cross numbers off a list

It was time for the selection

The officer wrote down the number on my wrist

We were puppets

Led thousands to their death

Haunting screams

I just sat in the gas chamber

 It was like a dream

One of us was alive, but we were both dead

 

My name is Rachel Kessler and I am a sophomore. My favorite thing to do in school is play on the Varsity Soccer team. I also greatly enjoy being a part of Pre-Law and a member of SGA and Key Club.

Why did you choose to submit this category(s) of artwork/writing out of the many available category options?

I chose to submit this category of writing out of the many available category options because I like the challenge of trying to take two completely different positions and make it into one cohesive piece.

What is your ideal writing environment?

My ideal writing environment is in my room listening to Taylor Swift’s album Folklore.

What message do you hope to convey through your piece?

The message I hope to convey through this piece is that everyone is human and rather than fighting eachother we should join together.