Holocaust Memorial Day - Thanks Kiera!

On the 27th of January, it is National Holocaust Memorial Day. This is when we pay respect to the millions of people who were murdered during the Holocaust in the Second Word War. This was when over 6 million Jews were taken to concentration camps which, more often than not, led to their cruel deaths.

Recently we have seen a slide show in assembly which inspired me to write a poem on the happenings. I decided to write it as if it was happening to me and then at the end using a quote from her tombstone. The poem happens over about 5 minutes but it makes horrific statements about life in one of the camps: Auschwitz. Here is the poem:

Paving Our Road to Hell

Uniforms bearing the badge of death,
Identities gone, only a number left.
Upon us: the coldest form of discrimination
The cure for hatred; mass extermination
Pools of blood on the floor; gas in the air,
The hunger, the pain, is too much to bear.

9 years old, orphaned in this blood hungry war.
I can feel what they’re doing, but don’t know what for.
My ears are immune to the guns and the wails
But the grief of my loss still pierces me like nails
My mother was gassed, my father was shot.
My brother was starved, I was left distraught.

The cells hold the ghosts of the lucky, it may seem
Because, compared to this, death is a dream.
I look at the walls, see the lives taken here
I can feel their surrender, I can smell their fear.
They hate us, they beat us, cruel words they yell
Their inhumane punishments pave our road to Hell

Here she lies, death by fire
Pinned as a thief, a crook, a liar
Her faith in her God caused them to retaliate
Left her with no choice, no chance to debate.
Her skin did not burn alone as she fell
Her faith and trust in God enflamed as well.

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Another 'dramatic monologue'

Even more people posting! Keep it up :D

I was leafing through my poetry resources tonight looking for something and I came across another 'dramatic monologue'. Remember, in a dramatic monologue the speaker unintentionally reveals things about themselves that they might not really have wanted the listener to know - Alfonso gives us clues about his jealous and arrogant nature, for example.

This one is called 'Perfect'.

Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder
How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet
Be a good girl
You've got to try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud
I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem... why are you crying
Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect

It'd be interesting to see you discuss this a wee bit in the comments section. Who is the speaker? What's your opinion of them? And why aren't there any question marks in the poem?

You may actually have heard this poem before... it's a song by Alanis Morissette. You can listen to it by clicking on the video below.

'My Last Duchess' - Videos

I'm pleased to see that people are posting! :)

Remember the video of 'My Last Duchess' that we watched in class? Since the sound quality was so terrible I'm giving you the link to watch it yourselves, at home. The commentaries are there too (which we tried and failed to watch in class).

Remember Kiera - you're our next blogger! Get your thinking cap on and decide what you want to write about!

The video below was made by a bunch of GCSE students in England who are also studying 'My Last Duchess'. It's quite funny, but a bit... well, rubbish! Any budding film makers in S2 willing to go one better..?

'My Last Duchess' powerpoint

This is the powerpoint we looked at in class. I thought it might be helpful when you're writing 'Lucrezia's Story' - the full names of all the characters are listed, in case you forget them (they are quite long!)

My Last Duchess

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Children & Teens Presentations & Slid

First Ever Post - Thanks Carina!

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs! cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosnt mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! :)