Tuesday, April 17, 2007

A Real Stand



The war tried to kill him.
The Nazis tried to exterminate him
but he did not die, would not die.
He was saving his time.

Father, friend, husband
Teacher, scientist, Professor
Romanian, Jew, American
the titles of his life with the additions of survivor, then hero

When he was 15 he withstood madmen’s death
When he was 77 he withstood a madman’s death again
This time, his last stand to hold a door
saved students, sons and daughters, at Virginia Tech.


Dedicated to Professor Liviu Librescu, Holocaust Survivor/ American Hero
© Clinton Thomas, 2007

3 comments:

Alan Heah said...

Hi Clint(on Thomas)!

I was linked here, thanks to your email response detailing your various blogs, in addition to that with Star Trek fiction.

I am moved by this poem dedicated to Professor Librescu, of late at Virginia Tech.
Thank you for memorialising him!

That Writer said...

Alan,
Thanks for your kind comments. I consider Professor Librescu to be not only a survivor of the Holocaust, but a hero. By holding the door shut, he gave his students a chance to live and there can be no higher hero than someone willing to sacrifice himself or herself for someone else.

That Writer said...

Alan,
Thanks for your kind comments. I consider Professor Librescu to be not only a survivor of the Holocaust, but a hero. By holding the door shut, he gave his students a chance to live and there can be no higher hero than someone willing to sacrifice himself or herself for someone else.