Room With a View
By Lauren Harrison

There were twenty of us in class.
All of which were relatively friendly.
Time flew by, aging through the years,
Watching each other becoming older.
Each year brought new surprises and our knowledge would heighten day by day.
Sometimes, we would even be excited for class.

Of course, there were the smart ones that felt obligated to sit in the front.
And then there were the disrupting kinds in the rear.
But as for me, I had my own place somewhere in the middle
Where we three had our own little clique.
The twenty of us would spend all day together
But I felt closer to these three than anyone else.
Sharing gossip we heard that week was only one of the highlights.
Those were the good days when we all felt complete.

One day, four were continually missing class.
In fact, we hadn’t seen the occupants in attendance for several days.
I wouldn’t have noticed if my comrades didn’t tell me.
I heard rumors that the occupants were taken away because they were Jewish.
I wonder why?
The teacher was hesitant to explain the absences.
Class continued as usual,
Yet, we still wondered what ever happened to those four.

Weeks had passed and everything seemed normal
Until we discovered more were missing.
Rumors were in all conversations
But we didn’t want to imagine where they were.
Abruptly, we noticed that what was once a twenty- student class
Was now an eleven- student class.

This routine unfortunately occurred on numerous occasions
Until there were only six left in the class.
My friends were gone.
I wasn’t even able to say goodbye.
I wish I could see them just one more time and tell them how I miss them.
I felt as if they were dropping like flies.

Inevitably we knew one by one
That each had our own fate and would vanish.
It was only a matter of time before my destiny occurred.
The worst part was that the tragedy was uncontrollable.

They’ve closed the room in which I live.
For the room has no purpose.
My back is no longer scratched with the writing of a pencil.
I’m empty without books
And uncovered without paper.
For I have no use anymore.

I’ve served my purpose
And now my life has come to a useless end.
Nothing but an empty classroom and we- the desks.