Maus/Night Reflection Poem

I can see the gates
"ARBEIT MACHT FREI"
It is adorned over the entrance to the death camps
like a sorry excuse for a welcome mat
Work sets you free

THE JEWS LIKE TRAPPED MICE
THEY PILE OUT OF THE BOXCARS
Freed from the cramped space
Only to be bound once again to the death camps

FIRE FROM THE CREMATORIUMS LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT SKY
AS THE "DEFECTS" ARE PUSHED TOWARD THEIR DEATHS
FAMILIES ARE SLASHED APART WITH THE QUICKNESS OF A CAT'S SWIPE
AND SENT OFF INTO DIFFERENT PATHS
Never to see each other again

And yet, there are bonds
SUCH AS THOSE BETWEEN FATHER AND SON
That are too strong to be broken
AND THAT REMAIN DUE TO THE FIGHT OF THE OPPRESSED.

Explanation:
I used many references to the Maus books such as lines 6 and 12. I did this by comparing the Jews to mice and the Germans to cats, as it was done in Maus. I also made allusions to the book, Night, by including details that were described such as how "Arbeit Macht Frei" was the sign above the gates to Auschwitz (line 2) and how the Jews were transported in cramped boxcars (line7). Also, I described how there was the image of fire (line 10) and how people considered unable to work were sent immediately to them upon arrival (line 11). Also I alluded to the fact that Elie Wiesel's family was split apart in line 13. At the end, I made references to how Elie and his father managed to stay together and how they had to fight to keep it this way (lines 16 and 18). In my poem, the volta occurs at the start of the third stanza and changes from a totally dark and depressing attitude to a somewhat hopeful attitude because the father and son are able to stay together in the middle of this struggle.