Talented Lucy's poem marks Holocaust Memorial Day

A talented student from Oldham has written a poem to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Lucy Walton, a Year 10 pupil at Royton & Crompton E-ACT Academy composed the moving poem, in which she reflects on "cruel events" and shares her hopes for a more peaceful future.

Lucy, 15, explained her inspiration behind the poem: “I decided to write the poem as The Holocaust is a major event in history and shouldn’t be pushed aside or forgotten. I tried to imagine how I would feel in this awful situation and put myself in their shoes, although it is very hard for anyone to imagine how tragic this would have actually been.

Lucy says it's vital that students learn about these historical events:  "Everyone’s story deserves to be heard and to help make the present world a better place. The morals taken from this period of time are to treat everyone equally and that the colour of your skin, religion or sexuality doesn’t change you as a person. Kindness costs nothing and should be spread worldwide.”

The poem was read to students this morning at a virtual assembly.

Headteacher, Andrea Atkinson said: "We are incredibly proud of Lucy for writing such a poignant poem on such an important remembrance day. We are so pleased that her talent for poetry writing has been recognised and shared amongst the community as we all remember those who very sadly suffered and lost their lives."

Holocaust Memorial Day is promoted and supported by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

The annual commemoration encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide. The international day falls on 27 January each year to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, the largest Nazi death camp.

Each year across the UK, the HMD Trust encourages thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future.

Today we remember the day
many lost their lives,
either in gas chambers,
from starvation, or even by knives.

These cruel events all took place
because of religion, sexuality, or their race.

No-one should be judged
for who they want to be
but especially not trapped in cages
when they have the whole world to see.

Imagine how they felt,
sitting alone at night,
wondering how it would be,
if only they could see the light.

Imagine the hope they had,
that one day they would be free,
having dreams about chimneys,
and what they could be having for tea.

However thousands didn't make it,
despite their hopes and dreams,
so now we all stand together,
as an even bigger team.

We hold our respect and love
for them deep in our hearts,
because we are stronger together,
than when we're apart.

By Lucy Walton

You can download the poem here

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