Two Brothers; Separated At War Poem by Grace Miao

Joshua


My name is Joshua
I am 18 years old
I have dark brown hair
And chocolate colored eyes

But I am a Jew
I am the person who is part of this inferior race
And here I am, carrying this repulsive mark
The criminal of the century
I am a wild animal
Unable to understand the meaning of patriotism or loyalty because of my religion
I always have to hide and steal in order to survive
Living through the pain and knowledge that my family was sent to Auschwitz
It’s like Death is staying in front of my eyes
Coaxing me to leave with him

But my death will not be so soon
I will not let myself fall
Into those blood-thirsty Nazis’ hands
If I have to die I will die a valiant death
I will die knowing that I brought one of those savages down
At a time like this
Staying alive is not important
What is important is how to die

Joshua’s Brother


I have a nose, two eyes, a mouth, and two ears
I have no disabilities
Why am I at this camp then?
Why am I treated with hostility then?
Why am I striped of everything I have?
It is because I am a Jew.
Because I am a Jew I have to see millions of people die
I see all of my loved ones slowly dying
Their faint heartbeat
Their fading eyes
Haunting you
As you think it has come to the worse
They are suddenly taken away from you

People think that hope will help save my people
It will not
I have seen each person in this camp come and go
There is no hope in this camp
There is only pain, as you see your loved ones
Leave one by one.