In Passing

This afternoon, I passed by a plain white car. A young woman was driving and calming her children down at the same time. This mother, a complete stranger, drove by and I smiled at her. It was a hopeful smile, and an attempt to brighten up her day a bit, and she smiled back. I could tell she was truly happy, and it made me feel happy, too.

-Cora

Nostalgia

Nostalgia.
The last weeks of school this year.
The last days of middle school.
The last hours of homework,
The last minutes of classes,
The last moments before ...
The last time I hear those sweet sounds.
The last time the children tap their feet in anticipation and stare at the clock, and, when the time comes, jump up and scream.
It's the last time they are children.
We'll all be older next year,
expected to be more mature,
to behave properly,
to not be childish.
The last time we steal each other's lunch boxes,
The last time we lay in the Commons and stretch,
The last time we jump down from bleachers,
The last time we have fun at the playground,
The last time we have a middle school dance,
The last time we're all together,
All of these last times …
Nostalgia.
Will I ever forget?

Read to Me

read to me
read to me
distract me from this pain
pain
pain
pain
take me away from this pain
pain
pain
pain
take me away
please take me away
just like a dreamscape,
a lullaby
that you sing to me
that you speak to me
that you read to me
read to me like the rays of a sunset
shine down on me
while i stay afloat
but when the sun falls down
when i start to sink
when the sun slips down
everything will be at peace
i close my eyes
my eyelids fall
my eyelids sink
my eyelids slip
i close my eyes
everything will be at peace
i go to sleep
fall
sink
slip
fall
sink
slip
good night,
good night,
i go to sleep.

In Memory of Mrs. Henry Lafayette-Dubose. RIP.

A Pocketful of Happiness

-openness
a wave from far away
the hugs of warmth, the warmth of hugs
welcome signs and welcome mats
-equality-
words written and words spoken

answers questioned, questions answered

from far away a wave

closure-

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Conclusion (Days 7 and 8)

Never again ... that was what people decided. Never again.

Never another holocaust, never another genocide.

Never.

But ... it did happen again.

Again and again and again.

http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/gallery/portraits

http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/atrisk

Never forget.

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 6

A paperclip
stay strong
a link in the chain
of remembrance
http://tinyurl.com/5us99tc

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 5

This week, I've been thinking a lot about making a difference. I've been thinking about different charities, and what makes each cause unique and worthy of awareness, attention, and/or action. Many organizations in the world have compelling causes that need others' support, but I think that though awareness is important, it would be nearly impossible to donate and commit to every single important cause in the world. There's so many different ways to help out, and trying to choose is often hard, but I think you and I and everyone else, when faced with the question of what, whom, or where to help, should ponder about what affects us as individuals and what we care about. I guess it all comes down to trying to making whatever difference you want to make.

I'm thinking about this because the theme of this year's Holocaust Remembrance Week is "What have we learned?" (http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/years/detail.php?content=2011&lang=)

Other than lessons of ignorance and hatred, we see other lessons that branch out from the Holocaust. Some people did fight for what they believed in, even in such troubled times as World War II, and I think that commemorating them is just as important as remembering the victims. Remember those who made a difference in the world, and learn to do the same in your own way.

-Cora

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 4

A candle burning
Stay burning
Bring your light
Let the light shine.
-Cora

http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/video/?content=whyweremember

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 3

Helen Katz
a life cut short
too short

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_oi.php?MediaId=2110

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 2

Do you remember me?

beyond recognition
you only know my name
like a shell
containing me

an infant's short life
the love in a child's life
all reduced to
a picture
no further knowledge

Do you remember me?

http://rememberme.ushmm.org/pages/child/jadwigaschwlikowska-30/

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Day 1

million
million
million
million
million
million
million
million
million
million
million

hearts
paperclips
People

gone

don't forget them