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| Cover by Barnes & Noble |
Janeczko, Paul B. Requiem:
Poems of the Terezin Ghetto. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-7636-4727-8.
Poetic Elements
This
powerful, moving collection by Paul Janeczko exposes the horrific circumstances
endured at the Terezin Ghetto, deemed by Hitler to be a haven for European
Jews. Although the narratives are accounts of mostly fictional characters (with
the exception of one), they are based on extensive research of historical
events and facts. The first poem, narrated by a displaced resident during the
transformation of Terezin, Czechoslovakia, speaks of the nightmare on the
streets in front of his Jewish shop: “delicate handkerchiefs/ now fallen white
leaves” and “A white linen tablecloth/ edged with pink roses--/ Mama’s favorite
pattern--/ flowed like a bride’s train/ from sidewalk to curb to gutter./ Papa
stared at black boot marks/ crossing it like sins.” Janeczko’s masterful
figurative language also gives voice to a would be inmate as her transport
number is being called, “Beasts of burden,/ we shouldered bundles/ of what
pieces of the past/ we were allowed to keep/ as we joined the river of fear,/ a
current of shuffling feet, sobs, and whimpers/ that crept past dark mouths/ of
archways and windows/ to Terezin.”
Appeal
Requiem, written in free verse, is
a valuable asset to the collection of Holocaust literature and gives a
courageous voice to the 140,000 European Jews who suffered unspeakable and
inhumane treatment by Nazi guards. Although Hitler hailed the Czech collection
and transport camp, Terezin, as a haven for artistic and intellectual Jews, it
was little more than a pit stop en route to the gas chambers. In “SS Captain
Bruno Krueger” an older Jewish man and a young boy tried to escape but were
dragged back for “the lesson.” Captain Bruno narrates their fate: (We herded all
the Jew swine/ close to the gallows/ where the old Jew stood on the wagon/
noosed./ I ordered my Jews closer./ Close enough to hear the twig snap of his
neck.) These harrowing poems are sure to fill readers with undeniable feelings
of sadness, anger, and confusion about how something this despicable could
happen.
Overall Quality
These
dark, narrative poems by prisoners, guards, and residents of the transformed
town are thought provoking and consistent in quality. Janeczko’s Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto was
the recipient of the following awards:
·
CYBILS’ Poetry Award Winner for 2012
·
Children’s Books of the Year 2012
·
Notable Books for a Global Society 2012
·
Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts 2012
·
Teachers Choice 2012
The Poet
Paul
Janeczko grew up in New Jersey and presently resides in Maine. He never dreamed
of being a writer until attending college and being around kids who had read a
lot and could talk about music, literature, and the arts. That’s when he
realized he had wasted a lot of time in high school. He has taught high school
English as well as college courses, and published nearly fifty books. He has
received multiple awards including ALA Books for Young Adults, ALA Notable
Books, New York Public Library Best Books, and School Library Journal Best
Young Adult Books of the Year awards, in addition to being the recipient of the
2012 CYBILS’ Poetry Award Winner for Requiem.
Layout
Requiem includes a table of
contents for more than thirty poems, mostly titled with a fictional prisoner’s
name and number. In an afterword, Janeczko explains that Terezin was different
from other Nazi death camps as the inmates were Jewish intellectuals and
artists of Prague. He further explains, “As a result, it became a prison in
which the arts were tolerated, then encouraged as a Nazi propaganda tool.” The
Author’s Note confirms that “Valtr Eisinger/11956” was the one exception to fictional
characters as the poem was taken from actual letters written by Eisinger, who was shot
at Buchenwald on January 15, 1945. A short glossary of foreign words, an
extensive bibliography, and a list of websites consulted are also appended. The
book concludes with art credits for the illustrations accompanying the poetry.
The drawings are by actual adult and child inmates from the prison camp that
were discovered after World War II.
Spotlight Poem
Excerpt from: SS
Captain Bruno Krueger
As he hung and finished his death dance,
a guard brought forth the other man.
Man? Was he old enough to shave?
No matter.
He will be a teacher,
playing his part in today’s lesson.
He was, perhaps, saving other Jews
who dreamed of freedom.
Hands tied behind his back,
kneeling in the mud
he looked at me with defiance.
I enjoyed the chance to show him,
to show all,
the impracticality of defiance.
Another Jew fetched a bucket
filled with paving stones.
I selected a stone,
carefully,
looking for one with sharp corners.
Poetry Break
Introduction:
For introduction purposes, I would allow students to listen to a couple of
readings from this book of poetry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkZSuEsdLgQ
Extension
Activity: For an extension activity, share this interview with Paul B Janeczko
with the class:
This
interview tells how Janeczko was inspired to write Requiem and about visiting the site for research purposes. It also
explains how the drawings used for illustrations in the book were smuggled out
of the camp, while others were hidden until the Russians liberated it.
OR
Share
I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children’s
Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp 1942-1944 by Hana
Volavkova.
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