1274554721 (In Memorial)

In memory of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, 1/27/1945

I have no sense of what this day must mean
for those who long ago endured the pain
of tyranny, and yet survived to tell
this younger generation of the scenes

their youthful minds have never known, or seen,
or yet conceived, except through celluloid
of black and white; my heart can only sigh-
I have no sense of what this day must mean.

Remember this we must! lest we be weaned
from history’s sour milk, and start to feign
the lie as truth. Do not forsake to teach
this younger generation of the scenes.

I have no sense of what this day must mean
to those whose fleshy numbers still remind
this younger generation of the scenes.

© D. Allen Jenkins

Author's Note

This is a Villonnet, a form I created in 2005. A Villonnet is a hybrid of the Villanelle and the Sonnet. It has the Iambic Pentameter of both, but holds the four-stanza/line structure of the sonnet, while utilizing the two-line rhyme nature of the villanelle. The final stanza replaces the sonnet couplet with a typical villanelle tercet.

Reviews

[Neville]

Cor blimey dear poet...as well as stumbling across these very fine and might I just add, such necessary words of yours... I have been introduced to a form of poetical model, I never knew existed... I thank you both for this great write and literally for the literary education too.... I owe ya...... Neville

[Doug Jenkins]

Thank you Neville, I'm glad you found it and enjoyed. As I said, this is a form of my own creation back in 2005, and I hope you find some expression of your own thoughts by means of it.

[Neville]

you have certainly given me something to think about.. thank you again... Neville