In the deepest darkness of Auschwitz's night,
I stand here, a witness to the human plight.
Aching within my bones, my soul so frail,
Trying to comprehend this agonizing tale.
I am Elie, the protagonist of Night,
A young Jewish boy, robbed of his light.
My innocence, shattered by the Nazi reign,
I wander through the horrors with profound pain.
There, amidst the chaos, a scene unfolds,
Of a father and child, a story untold.
My father, so weak, his eyes filled with fear,
Yet, in his gaze, a love that's crystal clear.
I see him before me, weak and fragile,
As he whispers, "Keep going, don't let it break you,
Fight on, my son, hold onto your hope,
In this darkest of nights, never lose sight of the scope."
In this scene, I am reminded of the bond,
Between fathers and sons, so strong and profound.
As I hold onto my father's trembling hand,
I witness the strength that only love can command.
in three paragraphs of writing explain how your work relates to Elie in Night.
Each paragraph must provide textual evidence to support your connection.
My work relates to Elie in Night through the exploration of the depths of darkness and the human plight in the face of adversity. In the poem, I describe standing as a witness in Auschwitz, just as Elie himself is a witness to the horrors of the Holocaust. I write, "In the deepest darkness of Auschwitz's night, I stand here, a witness to the human plight." This highlights the shared experience of being thrust into a hellish reality and trying to make sense of the unfathomable suffering.
Furthermore, my poem captures Elie's struggle to retain his humanity and comprehend the agonizing tale he is living. I describe his soul as frail and aching within his bones, which echoes Elie's emotional and physical exhaustion in the book. He is robbed of his innocence by the Nazi reign and wanders through the horrors with profound pain, much like Elie's own journey in Night. This connection is emphasized through the line, "A young Jewish boy, robbed of his light."
Finally, my poem delves into the profound bond between father and son, which is a central theme in Night. I describe witnessing a scene where a father and child are intertwined, highlighting the love and strength that emanates from the father's gaze. This mirrors Elie's own relationship with his father in the book, particularly during their time in the concentration camps. Elie's father, while weak and filled with fear, implores him to keep going and hold onto hope, just as I write, "Fight on, my son, hold onto your hope, In this darkest of nights, never lose sight of the scope." This exhibits the resilient love and support that Elie and his father show for each other in the face of unimaginable suffering.