Funny thing, how stories are spun

   This story spun itself on the Web. It started in 2002 when I “met” Phyl Johnson, of Chesapeake, Virginia, with whom I shared first place in an Internet humor contest. (Yes, I’m capable of being funny.)

   After years of cutting up with Phyl in cyberspace, I discovered that she’s capable of being serious. Her book, Being Frank with Anne and Other Poems, was just published by an e-book company in England. ( www.deunantbooks.com )

   I ordered her book for two reasons. One, she’s a friend, and two, I’d just subbed in Andrea Herman’s Fifth Grade Class at Arcado Elementary School, where the kids were studying the Holocaust. I thought it might be cool for the class to read Phyl’s poem and respond to her.

   This story was supposed to have ended there, but due to a computer glitch with my order, I “met” the publisher, Les Broad. I mentioned my poetry project and he wrote, “I'm pleased to hear that the US education system doesn't overlook people such as Anne Frank. If you were to ask the average young person of similar age in the UK who she was all you would get is a blank look; our education standards are falling behind yours, I'm afraid.”

   Well, that kicked it up to a column. So, in April - National Poetry Month - and on April 25 - Holocaust Remembrance Day - to be exact, Miss Herman scheduled time for her students to read and reflect upon Phyl’s poem. 

   “It made me cry,” said Priscilla Mahavong. “I was feeling emotionally hurt for the people who had died,” said Anish Amin. Bryan Dyer shared a little of himself when he said, “It makes me mad to think about what Hitler did because part of my family is Jewish, but the part that makes me happy is that people survived.”

   Sam Trent related by saying, “Every day stuff like clothes, food and a good bed we take for granted, they were begging for.” Briana Reeves remarked, “If Anne Frank herself hadn’t written, we wouldn’t know as much about the actual experience.” 

   Amber Bruce reflected that in reading books about Anne Frank, they were mere observers, but, “In poetry, our point of view switches over to hers.”

   “People don’t take Holocaust Remembrance Day seriously enough. Some people think it’s depressing, which is true. But we should be happy that we are allowed to study what happened,” said Conor Flynn.

   Miss Herman’s students have gone on to spin this poem from cyberspace - inspired by a 60 year old paper diary - into a Power Point presentation. I can’t speak for the whole USA, but I can frankly say that at least in Miss Herman’s class, the past is well-woven into the present, reflecting the final line of Phyl’s poem: “Anne, you are with us still.”

05-6-6

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