Holocaust Poetry No. 3 'Daniel' by Laura Crist

'Daniel' by Laura Crist

And the child held her hand
A child tiny for almost eight,
Deep blue eyes that dominated his face,
When he explained new events to her,
     that funny doggy,
     that pretty rock,
And the freckles on his cheek,
No one saw a sunrise more perfect,
     to her,
She so vividly smells the fragrance of
     his hair,
     his ears,
     his breath in the morning
She vividly hears that little heartbeat,
     that was hers
     always hers,
     and the laughter,
     that raspy little laugh,
     when he caught her in a conundrum.
All this,
But this is merely the surface,
As she watches her little God sheared,
     and stripped,
For the gas chamber.

1. How is juxtaposition used in this poem to highlight an important theme of Holocaust literature? Juxtaposition is used to highlight the contrasting difference between the happiness and joy of the boys life to the stripping and shearing of the boy before he walks into his death.


2. How is descriptive language used to enhance the reader's reaction to the poem? Descriptive language is used to enhance the reader's reaction to the poem as they put a powerful meaning and emphasis onto the child and how deep and intimate the relationship is between the mother and the child. The alliterated words