Holocaust by Barbara Sonek

1 We played, we laughed

2 we were loved.

3 We were ripped from the arms of our

4 parents and thrown into the fire.

5 We were nothing more than children.

6 We had a future. We were going to be lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers. We had

7 dreams, then we had no hope. We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in

8 cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying. Separated from the world to

9 be no more. From the ashes, hear our plea. This atrocity to mankind can not happen

10 again. Remember us, for we were the children whose dreams and lives were stolen

11 away

L. 4

What does the word “atrocity” mean in line 9?

a
Hatred of the enemy
b
To foolishly follow instructions
c
A place where criminals are kept
d
An extremely wicked or cruel act
PLEASE HELP PLEASE