Life in Hiding

The days here are very quiet,

(October 1, 1942)

having to sit still all day

and not say a word,

you can imagine how

hard that is for me.

On ordinary days, we speak in a whisper.

Not being able to talk is worse.

(September 29, 1942)

The silence makes me so nervous,

but with chiming of the Westertoren clock

reassures me at night.

(July 11, 1942)

You no doubt want to hear

what I think of life in hiding?

(July 11, 1942)

The blue sky, the bare chestnut tree,

glistening with dew,

the seagulls, glinting with silver

swooping through the air.

As long as this exists,

this sunshine and this cloudless sky,

how can I be sad?

(February 23, 1944)

Prospectus and Guide to the Secret Annexe.

A Unique Facility for the Temporary Accommodation of Jews and Other

Dispossessed Persons.

Now our Annexe has truly become a secret,

a bookcase has been built in front of the entrance.

It swings on its hinges

and opens like a door.

It is Open All Year Round,

Located in Beautiful, Quiet, Wooded Surroundings,

In the Heart of Amsterdam.

Inside it is Necessary to Speak Softly at all times,

Singing is Permissible, only Softly and After Six p.m.!

(November 17, 1942)

The strangest things happen when you’re hiding.

Try to picture this.

We wash ourselves in a tin tub,

since the curtains are drawn,

we scrub ourselves in the dark,

while one looks out the window

and gazes at the endlessly amusing people.

(September 29, 1942)

The children run around in thin shirts

and wooden clogs.

They have no coats, no socks,

no caps and no one to help them.

Gnawing on a carrot to still their hunger,

they walk from their cold houses through cold streets.

(January 13, 1943)

One day this terrible war will be over,

and we’ll be people again,

and not just Jews.

(April 11, 1944)