“Yes, I Would Hide Her”
For Anne Frank, and in the Name of Christ
There are two kinds in the hour of trial:
those who bar the door with holy hands,
and those who smile with a Judas smile,
who open the gate at death’s commands.
Yes, I am she who would take her in,
because to do so is to flee from sin.
Anne, with her lamp of paper and ink,
spoke where silence was bought by fear—
a child who made the conscience think,
whose whispered hope still echoes here.
She should have been safe on any street—
not starved in silence beneath defeat.
Why did she hide? Because men grew cold.
Because power kissed the Reich’s black boots.
Because Jews were hunted for lies foretold,
and mercy shriveled at poisoned roots.
So she climbed the stairs to a secret sky,
to wait for justice, or else to die.
But there were hands that did not shake—
Miep, with bread beneath her coat.
Victor, Johannes, who chose to stake
their souls on truth, not vain banknotes.
They walked the path that Christ once gave:
“Defend the poor and needy… Save.”
(Psalm 82:3–4)
Yes, I, Margaret Ann, would hide her,
because my Christ commands me so:
“I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”
(Matthew 25:35)
To shield the innocent from their woe
is faith in action, grace made whole—
the fruit of love, the truest goal.
(James 2:15–17)
For God has said, “Open thy mouth
for those appointed unto death.”
(Proverbs 31:8–9)
And when hate marches from the south,
we answer not with empty breath—
but with a door, a meal, a hand,
and mercy as our holy stand.
“Learn to do well… relieve the oppressed.”
(Isaiah 1:17)
Not with noise, but quiet deeds.
When they are hunted and dispossessed,
we meet their pain with word and needs.
For “what doth the Lord require of thee,
but to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly?”
(Micah 6:8)—this speaks to me.
And if you judge, remember well:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.”
(Matthew 7:1–2)
He sees the measure that you bring—
and “mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
(James 2:13)
To scorn the weak is a fearful thing.
Christ said, “Judge righteous judgment.”
(John 7:24)—not by sight, nor by fear’s sway.
But by the heart that breaks for others,
and walks in truth, not in delay.
Do not forget the ones who failed—
who saw the bleeding, turned aside.
The priest, the Levite, hearts impaled
by their own fear and tribal pride.
But Christ said, “Go and do likewise” still,
(Luke 10:37)
The helper walked, the cowards stood still.
“Remember them that suffer,” too.
(Hebrews 13:3)
“Entertain strangers,” for some are divine.
(Hebrews 13:2)
The rich man feasted, yet never knew
that Lazarus starved beneath the sign.
Now he thirsts—while the poor man is blessed,
for mercy never once touched his breast.
(Luke 16:19–31)
Yes, I would hide her, and I would pray,
and bring the bread and draw the shade.
To do this is the Christian way—
to love the life that God has made.
And when they ask who passed the test,
I hope He says, “You loved the least.”
(Matthew 25:40)
Written by Marguerite Grace
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