In memory of the children of Terezin, the Nazi concentration camp in German-occupied Czechoslovakia, who planted a sapling at their campsite.  This year, Holocaust Memorial Day (Jan 27) coincides with the Festival of Tu Bishvat (Jan 27-28), with its annual Jewish tradition of planting trees. There is a wonderful story told about the children and their volunteer teachers at this camp. Six evocative Haikus by Kavita, exclusively for Different Truths.

Candles in windows
Childhood angels on a tree
Each branch a sweet child
 
Saplings become trees
Someday children will climb them
The blue sky of hope
 
Where is my mother?
I want her to see the tree
The teacher is here
 
The tree asks water
Share your rations happily
The tree feels your joy
 
Playing with the dolls
Dancing and singing the sun
See the tree in dreams
 
The earth is not parched
Tears of love have watered it
Saplings grow from pain

Visual by Different Truths

Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca

In a career spanning over four decades, Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca has taught English in Indian colleges, AP English in an International School in India, and French and Spanish in private schools in Canada. Her poems are featured in various journals and anthologies, including the Journal of Indian Literature published by the Sahitya Akademi and the Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English. Kavita has authored two collections of poetry.

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