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Lest We Forget

Kristallnacht 
the shards that pierced
humanity

crystal night
beneath the scars
shards forever prick

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 			
© 9th November, 2019

"Crystal Night" is the name that's been given to the night of 9-10 November 1938. In almost all large German cities and some smaller ones that night, store windows of Jewish shops were broken, Jewish houses and apartments were destroyed, and synagogues were demolished and set on fire. Many Jews were arrested, some were beaten, and some were even killed. 
[Info taken from the Institute for Historical Review]

remembrance daysenryu

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Angela Crabtree

Date: 11/17/2020 1:47:00 PM

I hate war. And the atrocities of that one especially. This is unrelated, but I think that we as Americans are trying to erase history and for me, I think that's a mistake. What's the saying? Those who forget are doomed to repeat it? A great poem, Paul. Hope you have a wonderful evening :)

Paul Callus
Date: 11/19/2020 5:40:00 AM

I agree...wars always leave a lot of suffering in their wake. And, yes, it is important to remember in order to avoid repeating mistakes. Rewriting History is like making fools of ourselves! ~ Regards // paul

Timothy Hicks

Date: 5/4/2020 3:10:00 AM

I remember reading about this when I had to read The Hiding Place for school. It's a non-fictional account of a German watchmaker who hid Jews for many years ......a very dark moment in our history, for sure. "the shards that pierced humanity" ... such a sad image.

Paul Callus
Date: 5/4/2020 1:56:00 PM

Thank you once again for stopping by to read my poetry, Timothy. I'm keeping you busy :) Regards // paul

Edmund Strempfl

Date: 1/1/2020 6:46:00 PM

Well written, short and pointy. This cracked crystal light is spreading in my sight

Paul Callus
Date: 1/3/2020 8:34:00 AM

Thank you, Edmund. Your feedback is appreciated. Regards // paul

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 12/5/2019 10:51:00 PM

It is wise to keep this memory alive, so if things begin to turn, we will recognize it the next time. Hopefully it will NEVER happen again, but strange things are happening all of the time.

Paul Callus
Date: 12/9/2019 9:38:00 AM

So true, Caren; hate and war appear to be never ending, yet we must keep on working to nourish love and peace. Best regards // paul

W.A. Cholt

Date: 12/3/2019 4:47:00 PM

Short and powerful. It's so important that people are reminded of this and other atrocities that have taken place in recent history.

Paul Callus
Date: 12/9/2019 9:36:00 AM

Thank you W.A. Sending you seasonal greetings // paul

Aqua Marine

Date: 12/1/2019 2:52:00 AM

Two very thought provoking senryus, Paul - War is hateful- there is no true justice in innocent people being murdered for the sake of ideology. I have hated war since I was a small child. An interesting bit if history a reminder to us all to "keep the peace" wherever we are able to, and to respect the feelings of others with beliefs different to our own.Religion is responsible for the most horrific atrocities. Thank you for your well penned reminder- there is power in a few words! Warm Regards

Paul Callus
Date: 12/3/2019 12:49:00 PM

Thank you for the insightful comments, Aqua. What worries me a lot is that religion is used to justify what is wrong! Many mistakes have been made....when will we learn?!! ~ Warm regards // paul

Pashang Salehi

Date: 11/27/2019 3:16:00 PM

All in the name of the divine... I do not understand... we are still seeing this in many different forms.

Pashang Salehi
Date: 12/2/2019 11:27:00 AM

We just need more love...

Paul Callus
Date: 11/29/2019 3:36:00 PM

True, Pashang, so hard to understand. Evil will always exist. Thank you for commenting. Regards // paul

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 11/26/2019 8:35:00 AM

Power to truth poetry, Paul! Ty for the historical lesson ... lest we forget and repeat past atrocities. Love and best wishes for the holidays.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/26/2019 12:33:00 PM

Thank you for you insightful comments, Freddie. Best wishes to you, too! Regards // paul

Brenda Chiri

Date: 11/26/2019 12:09:00 AM

Paul i always enjoy reading your work!;)

Paul Callus
Date: 11/26/2019 7:11:00 AM

Thank you for your friendship and support, Brenda; much appreciated. Regards // paul

Sara Kendrick

Date: 11/25/2019 3:17:00 PM

Sad that someone decides that a people should be destroyed. There are misguided souls in this world. I hope that history doesn't repeat itself. Your work was of interest. Thanks for your visit to my page. Sara

Paul Callus
Date: 11/25/2019 4:33:00 PM

Thank you for your insightful comments, Sara. Best regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/23/2019 7:25:00 PM

wow, another amazing haiku set here, Paul. You are great with short forms. Keep up the good work. I think this day was the beginning of the end for the poor jews back in those horrible years of Germany.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/24/2019 5:47:00 AM

Yes, it was the beginning of the end. Thank you for your complimentary remarks, Andrea; much appreciated. Hope you're enjoying the weekend. Regards // paul

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 11/23/2019 9:25:00 AM

Thanks for adding the historical context. This piece vibrates with empathy.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/23/2019 10:10:00 AM

Thank you, Richard. In this case it was important to give some added information. Regards // paul

Sunlite Wanter

Date: 11/20/2019 2:21:00 PM

i have read books describing krstal nacht, and I can't imagine what the people went through!!! We shouldn't forget about it. Congratulations o you Lifetime membership.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 3:05:00 PM

Thank you Sunlite. History, when passed on faithfully, is something to learn from. Our world and its people need to bathe in 'light'; there has already been so much suffering! Regards // paul

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 11/19/2019 11:44:00 AM

The incomprehensible fact to this horrible night is that the Germans who took part in it were mostly "christian" churchgoers! What were they learning there, if anything! / M

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 3:00:00 PM

Politics is a blinding factor, Maurice, while many follow their leaders like lost sheep! Pity we do not learn enough from past mistakes. Regards // paul

Johnson Vdev

Date: 11/19/2019 9:50:00 AM

Six short lines that told us the whole history. Painful. It looks more painful as we forget it and this poem can be written over and over just changing context of happenings in some parts of the world today as well... Thanks a lot for sharing this. It's epic.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 2:57:00 PM

You are right, JV. History repeats itself. Thank you for stopping by, yet again; your support is appreciated. Regards // paul

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 11/19/2019 8:48:00 AM

I always wondered how such a pretty name was associated to such horrific acts. Well written, Paul. Congratulations on being featured by email. SuZ

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 2:55:00 PM

I too had been impressed by Kristallnacht / Crystal Night, until I read all about it and understood what it stands for. Thank you for visiting, Suzanne! Hope you are keeping well, my friend. Have a lovely weekend. Hugs // paul

S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri

Date: 11/19/2019 4:40:00 AM

Is it like the holocaust? An awesome moving poem you wrote on the atrocity, it pierces the heart with your strong poetic hard hitting metaphor. Kudos. Pls pleez do comment on my newest poem too

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 2:50:00 PM

Thank you for reading and commenting, Zayneb. I have already read your delightful poem, and penned my views. Regards // paul

Carla Ingram

Date: 11/18/2019 9:50:00 PM

Thank you for sharing this write and explaining/ I hate that happen

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 2:47:00 PM

Thank you for stopping by, Carla. We writers can combat such things with our pens. Regards // paul

Joseph Adler

Date: 11/18/2019 7:17:00 PM

Thank you for this poem Paul. My mother lived in Berlin and awoke on the morning after Kristallnacht. Her neighbors were well aware of the action, and warned her to stay in that night. Just in case one wonders if this was just perpetrated by only Nazi's, it wasn't. It was the same bigotry that exists today in this country that encouraged what were one's neighbors to commit the destruction. She was 13 years old. She survived the Holocaust, is still alive. A warning to us all. Thanks again.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/22/2019 2:45:00 PM

Thank you for this personal informative contribution to my poem, Joseph. Bigotry and crimes on humanity will never cease; it's our duty to to draw attention to them and condemn them. Regards // paul

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 11/12/2019 4:47:00 PM

How sad to read about such atrocity , years may come and go still we remember how awful they were treated for sake o religion. A wonderful write Paul, hope all is well, Thank you for stopping by, its always nice to hear from you.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/15/2019 4:09:00 PM

Thank you for a pleasant visit, Vienna; you're always welcome (I do keep the kettle on just in case...:) :) Goditi il fine settimana. Ciao. /x/ paul

Judy Ball

Date: 11/12/2019 3:05:00 PM

Horrible. How blessed we are that we were not subjected to that but there are many today whose families lived through that horror. I was one of the people who were blessed to meet in person Corrie Ten Boom when she visited our church in The Northwest Territories here in Canada. A wonderful lady who told of the horror she and her family lived through. Some of her family actually died in that. God Bless my friend. JB

Paul Callus
Date: 11/15/2019 4:05:00 PM

Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing your own personal experience, Judy. Indeed, those were horrible times! Best regards // paul

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 11/12/2019 12:56:00 PM

What a terrifying night this must have been for the Jewish people, a sign of things to come as the Nazis were preparing Germany for WW11 and the Jewish holocaust- Kristallnacht - Night of Crystal - referring to a night of torching synagogues and shattering windows in Jewish shops, homes and schools killing at least 100 Jewish people -such an excellent write Paul and I'm certain it will come first in the contest and a best contender for POTD. Warm regards and hugs, Jenny.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/15/2019 2:31:00 PM

You are right, Jenny; it must have been terrible, and what was to follow was even worse! Crimes against humanity can never be erased....never to be forgotten. Thank you for your faith in this double senryu. ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul