A Jewish Family Remembered Poem by jan oskar hansen

Mother left the orphanage at fifteen to go into service,
as a maid, with the family Rabinowitch, who were in
the garment business. They had two sons, who both
went to live in the USA; a wise choice as it turned out.
Nothing much for mother to do so she spent her time
reading books from the family’s extensive library, and
the kind couple let her. Two years later, when mother
had read all the books, the lady of the house suggested
mother should find other employment as she wasn’t cut
out to be a maid. Mother she cried when learning that
both had perished in a death camp, somewhere Germany;
a senseless death of two beautiful people. Their kindness
changed mother’s life, made her horizon wider; and what
she had leaned she thought me; yes, she too was beautiful