Home » Poems » Jennifer Fenn » To Holocaust Survivors In the Former Soviet Union

To Holocaust Survivors In the Former Soviet Union

You worked so hard but just exist. Your high school grad dates you just missed, evacuated from Ukraine. In Russia’s army to resist, you fought the tyrant Hitler’s reign. You worked so hard but just exist on meager pensions. You subsist by choosing food or meds, that’s plain. No other kinfolks to assist in taking care of you in midst of tears and shakes of flashback strain, you worked so hard but just exist! Although you made your job’s A-list, you now wear rags, your joints in pain, no other kinfolks to assist. Your teeth all gone, in life’s mean twist, these lines remain your grim refrain: You worked so hard but just exist, no other kinfolks to assist. To help elderly Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union, visit the website of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at ifcj.org.

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Debra L Brown

Date: 3/29/2022 4:45:00 PM

Jennifer, your poem was very heartfelt and powerful. Nicely written. Blessings ~ Debra

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 3/30/2022 12:58:00 PM

Thank you Debra! It was great to have you visit me.

Sally Eslinger

Date: 3/29/2022 11:26:00 AM

Hello Jennifer! Good to see you after so long! Here, your superb talent enlists poetry to using its power to communicate and share current anguishing, threatening, history-repeating storms of humanity. I see this as 1 supreme reason Poetry needs prominence now. Here you exhibit this with excellence! Thank U!

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 3/29/2022 1:41:00 PM

Thank you Sally! So glad to see you too!

Silent One

Date: 3/23/2022 3:08:00 PM

Powerful poem..

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 3/29/2022 1:40:00 PM

Thank you Silent One!

Len Gasun

Date: 2/12/2022 5:52:00 AM

There's so much pain in this world my dear friend Jennifer. I enjoyed your beautifully sad poem. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for just coming now. Hope you're keeping well. Blessings. Hugs

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 2/12/2022 12:23:00 PM

Thank you for stopping by Len. Hugs to you too.

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 2/8/2022 7:25:00 PM

This poem hurts my heart; we must never forget. I will visit the website; thank you for sharing it as well as your heart gripping poem. God bless you Jennifer <3

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 2/12/2022 12:24:00 PM

Hi BJ! Thank you for visiting me and reading this poem. I am so glad you will visit the website. As God said to Abraham, “I will bless those you bless you”.

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 1/14/2022 5:27:00 PM

Well said Jennifer, no human being should ever exist like that, it’s tragic what happened and happens to people in some parts of the world even to this day… Belle

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 1/19/2022 10:50:00 PM

Thank you for stopping bye with encouragement, Belle. Have a great weekend!

M. L. Kiser

Date: 11/3/2021 4:42:00 PM

It's a real disgrace how they are treated; all they've been through and they are still treated this way. There is no excuse; well penned and very sad.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 11/6/2021 11:12:00 PM

Yes, it IS a real disgrace that humanity hasn't really changed. Thank you for the visit and for taking the time to read this poem about what has happened to so many.

Paulette Calasibetta

Date: 10/21/2021 6:51:00 AM

Hi Jennifer, a beautiful written piece for a heartbreaking existence~well done. Blessings, Paulette

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 11/6/2021 11:10:00 PM

Hi Paulette! Thank you for the visit and for taking time to read the story of what happened to so many.

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

Date: 9/30/2021 1:52:00 AM

Touching.Very well penned.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 10/2/2021 5:17:00 PM

Thank you Akham! So happy you visited me.

Jack Horne

Date: 9/27/2021 5:24:00 AM

such a touching write here

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/27/2021 9:05:00 PM

Thank you for visiting me with your encouragement Jack. Have a blessed day.

Thomas Wells

Date: 9/25/2021 3:28:00 PM

Your poem brilliantly conveys the suffering and pathos of survivors of the Holocaust. I have never visited Russia to witness how these people live now. But this poem brings it to life. Especially remarkable is the way this poem conveys how the suffering of these victims is nearly as bad now as it was when they were imprisoned in the camps by the Nazis. They can never escape the horror of their past. They are reminded of it daily. I am very moved by this poem.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/27/2021 9:08:00 PM

Hello Thomas! Thank you for taking the time to read this and respond in the detailed way that you did. It let me know the poem conveyed what I wanted it to. I’ve never gone to Russia either or met any of these people but I would sure like to. Their stories are inspiring because they keep their faith despite all they’ve been through. Anyway, keep writing the great stuff you write!

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 9/22/2021 5:45:00 AM

Dear Jennifer, such a heart-wrenching poem. There are so much pain and suffering in the world, and there's not much awareness. Thank you for penning this extraordinary poem - people need to know. Love and hugs ~ Mala

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/27/2021 9:12:00 PM

Thank you Mala! I also wasn’t aware of their plight until a few months ago when I got the letter in the mail. Since then I couldn’t get their stories out of my mind. Anyway, have a blessed day! Hugs and love back to you, Jennifer

Judy Ball

Date: 9/20/2021 3:01:00 PM

WoW Jennifer. I was one of the ones who were blessed to actually meet and shake the hand of Corrie Ten Boom. She spoke of her suffering and the suffering of others at the hands of Hitler's army. My heart and prayers go out to those who still remember those times. A fine tribute and plea for help for them. God Bless, JB

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/27/2021 9:14:00 PM

Wow! You got to meet Corrie Ten Boom!? She was an amazing lady, and so was her sister Betsy. I wish I could have met her. Thank you for the visit and encouragement. God bless you Judy!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 9/19/2021 3:26:00 AM

My husband sent money to this organization for about a year but it was stopped by the credit card company which said that the money was going to some militant group like the Taliban so you need to really check out this organization to be sure your money is going where you want it to. Your visit to my page was encouraging. Sara

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/27/2021 9:18:00 PM

Oh my gosh Sara! This was a shock! Before I made my first contribution to them, I researched them on Charity Navigator and Charity Watch, and and no red flags like that came up. I looked them up again after this message from you and still nothing. What extremist group did they give to? When was this? Soup Mail me with any other info, please. God bless!

M. L. Kiser

Date: 9/11/2021 4:55:00 PM

Heartbreaking knowing that people have nothing despite the years of work. They are not treated well at all. Very sad, but people do need to know. well done.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/12/2021 10:31:00 PM

Thank you for your encouraging words. Yes, people do need to know their plight. I didn't know about the ones in the former Soviet Union until last April.

Nancy Kaufman

Date: 9/8/2021 6:48:00 AM

Oh Ms. Jennifer. Thanks for penning this sad sad story. There is too much sadness in our world right now, it's so overwhelming. Why would those who suffered so much not get a reprieve??

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/8/2021 1:33:00 PM

Hi Nancy! That’s my question exactly. Thank you for reading this and for your encouraging comment. God bless you.

Harry Horsman

Date: 9/8/2021 1:55:00 AM

So much oppression, throughout the world Jennifer, and throughout history, Thanks to you and your poetry, in hi-lighting their problems.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/8/2021 1:31:00 PM

Hi Harry! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this. God bless you.

Alexis Y.

Date: 9/3/2021 10:33:00 PM

Hi Jennifer, It was horrible what they endured. Kudos to you for writing such a write. Thanks for providing the info to help the elderly Holocaust survivors- Alexis

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/4/2021 8:30:00 PM

Thank you Alexis, for reading and commenting on this. Yes, I want to use my poetry to raise awareness of the plights of others and drum up support for them. Is there a cause dear to you? Use your talent to draw support for it. You are a great poet, so you could do this. God bless you, Alexis. Love, Jennifer

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 9/3/2021 10:08:00 PM

Truly heart breaking. Those in power has all they need, but the poor will always remain poor. Clever writing.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/4/2021 8:26:00 PM

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this poem. You are so right about those in power, Victor. They have a lot to answer for. Take care! Blessings, Jennifer

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 9/3/2021 8:53:00 PM

Heartbreaking. Makes me feel ashamed when I complain about trivial concerns.... Very compassionate poem...

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 9/3/2021 9:24:00 PM

Thank you Shirley, for taking the time to read this poem and learn about the plight of these people. Many people here in the west don’t know about Holocaust survivors in the east and how bad they fare. God bless you and I hope to read more poems by you soon. In fact I’m going to your page now...

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 8/29/2021 12:01:00 PM

Great write Jennifer showing the plight of those that have been through so much, showing nice rhyme and flow with good insightfulness. Blessings always,Gordon

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 8/30/2021 1:43:00 PM

Thank you Gordon for your encouraging remarks. Blessings to you too!

James Marshall Goff

Date: 8/28/2021 10:54:00 PM

An overlooked plight, Jennifer, well written!

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 8/29/2021 11:22:00 AM

Thank you James, for visiting me with encouraging comments. Glad you like it.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 8/28/2021 1:28:00 AM

This is an amazing tribute to those holocaust survivors, Jennifer:) brilliantly written in a tough form:) I agree with Vijay, hats off to you:)

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 8/28/2021 2:54:00 PM

Such an encouraging comment! Thank you Jo. That made my day.

Heidi Sands

Date: 8/25/2021 9:24:00 AM

Well written Jennifer :)

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 8/25/2021 12:49:00 PM

Thank you friend!

Vijay Pandit

Date: 8/24/2021 5:19:00 AM

Your poem is a great service to those who suffered and to humanity in general. Kudos for highlighting their cause, Jennifer.

Jennifer Fenn
Date: 8/24/2021 3:56:00 PM

Thank you Vijay! That’s exactly what I wanted to do. What’s your favorite cause? You could use your poetry to highlight it and drum up funds for it.