A Train Station, England,1939 Poem by Deanna Samuels

We were left there, standing by ourselves
Standing after standing there all afternoon
Standing, huddled together at the station yard
We were left on our own, unwanted, unclaimed

There was Billie, a beautiful 24 year old mother of two
My brother Ralph who had not long turned three
Then there was me, a new born babe in arms
That unhappy, anxious time over 81 years ago

Declaration of War had just been declared
Women and children immediately to be evacuated
All eligible men; husbands and sons to be conscripted
My father already called up to report to army base

Of all the several hundred families of fellow travelers
A sponsor had been found for each and every one
All had now left to be taken to their new home
Everyone but us, we were left standing on our own

The local authorities became quite concerned
Who could they find to take in this dear little group?
They scoured the town until someone was found
Agreed to have us, but only for a weekly sum

Mum was puzzled as to why this all had happened
We were not dissimilar to all the other refugee families
What was it on the evacuation form that she filled in?
Details as most others - except religion marked Jewish

No other explanation could have been the cause
These townsfolk were a bastion of the church
Never mixed or met with such a different ethnic group
Hence, reluctance and distrust for us to be their guests

At six weeks old - my first taste of anti-Semitism


Written at Courtice, Ontario - 18th March 2021