Holocaust Poetry

1. What is your initial reaction to this poem?
   
   My initial reaction to this poem is empathy and a sense of reverence towards the children in that are being described in this poem.
   
2. How does the author use 'we' in this poem?
   
   The author of this poem uses we to signify that it wasn't just one person it was alot of people involved. It also adds to the emotion  that as it puts her in the picture, not just talking about other people.
   
3. What are the verbs used in the first sentence?
   
   Played, laughed, loved
   
4. What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?
   
   It's the complete opposite. In the first sentence they were talking about happy emotions, where as the second sentence lets  you see the worse side of it.
5. What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?
   
   It signifies their dreams, and puts  a face onto what these people were like, they all had dreams too. 
   
6. What simile is used in the poem and what effect does it have?
   
   "We were taken away, in the dead of night like cattle in cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying." It makes you realise how inhuman it all actually was.
   
7. How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence?
   
   She places herself as a victim and she leaves us off with a statement making us remember her.