A translation of the poem my mother wrote and recited for
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THE LAST EVENING MEAL
OF THE MICHAELIS FAMILY TOGETHER
ON THE 9TH OF AUGUST 1039
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before my departure with the Kindertransport on the next day
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As my parents considered it their duty to stay in Germany to do what they could for the remaining Jewish community, the probability of not being together again for a long time was talked about.
In the event I became the sole survivor of three generations of my original family.
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I also need to explain that in Germany at that time they had shops that were called “ Installations” - the real ones did all types of household repairs, especially plumbing and electrical. The local one had fascinated me and so I set up an “Installations” in the bedroom I shared with my older brother. We played with construction toys as well as, having worked out how some-things work we (for example) made and installed an indicator light to show if the light had been left on in the bathroom. We even made and installed a light fitting to hang from the ceiling. We tried to to run it as what we thought was a business – and I had quite lot of tools. One is a hand drill- I still have it from that time.
The following is, and has to be, an attempt at translating what the poem meant, not what it literally said
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THE LAST EVENING MEAL
OF THE MICHAELIS FAMILY TOGETHER
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Always remember your childhood years with joy
How beautiful life had been at home
Where you learnt to read and write
Where you brother was your best friend
How the two of you spent many happy hours in the “Installations”
But now concentrate on the future
Grab life courageously
It may sometimes be hard
But grab life with faith
Faith gives you strength
Have faith in God
He will help even at the worst times
Have faith in your own strength
To reach your highest goals
Give your deepest commitment
With enough faith you will find the way
Resi Michaelis 9.8.1939