Disclaimer: The poem's mine; no one else's. The only things/places that I don't own are Westerbork and the Secret Annexe.

Author’s Note: For those who are wondering – yes, this is anHolocaustpoem. It's based onAnne Frankand her life - mostly after she was sent to Westerbork.

This was inspired by the TV miniseries Anne Frank: The Whole Story, especially all the Westerbork scenes.

Personally I think the poem’s unrealistic . . oh well. This should be better than “Set Us Free” (my other work dealing with the Holocaust). Please tell me what you think of it – it would be much appreciated :)

Important Note: All grammatical errors are intentional.

Dedication: To Nicole, for being an inspiration and the best friend I could ever ask for, and all my reviewers/supporters (hugs)

-

That’s my family’s motto –

it helps us live

here at Westerbork

or there in the Secret Annexe

Remembering

and living by it

day by day

we survive

For us

to work

means

we’ll get through

this nightmare

we will be survivors

If we keep on hoping

everything will be better

eventually

and we won’t have to hide

everyone –

Jews

non Jews

will be equal

in the eyes of the people

and

in the eyes of the government

This

I know

will happen

if we keep on working

and hoping

to say alive

and rebuild our lives

so life will be

worth living again.

Because hope and work

is our weapon

our defense –

just like

the Nazis

have guns

tanks

and

power

as their weapons –

and it’s the strongest

one we have

– the strongest one

in the world.

So I keep on hoping

to stay alive

and to help my family

do the same

because we have

a life to look forward to

after the war is over –

a better

and normal

life

And working

because it

helps us to

stay alive

it makes us stronger

if we don’t work

we have

no means

of surviving

work gives us

food

The one thing

we’ve come to

depend on

as well as

our very lives.

Work gives us

hope

and makes us

look forward to

the near future

and the Allies

winning the war.

I keep on

hoping

and working

so I can live