The book of Lamentations is written by an anonymous author who survived through the most horrendous catastrophe in Israel's history up to that point: the siege of Jerusalem and the exile to Bablyon. The author writes 5 poems which serve as a memorial to the pain and confusion of the Israelites who lived at that tumultuous time. These words of grief draw attention to the horrible things that happen in this world, they help us process emotion and they are an aid to us as we voice confusion to God.