Dreams...My Mothers Struggle.. Poem by Tetske van der Wal

Was it a dream?
Was it a dream about that beautiful land of emerald?
Was it a dream that I remember the sawas?
Was it a dream that I remember the tropical sun?
Was it a dream I remember the beautiful sunsets?
Was it a dream I climbed these beautiful mountains?
Was it a dream I felt so much in love in that faraway land?
Was it a dream that I had so many friends there?
Was it a dream that we lived in Peace?
Was it a dream that the Japanese bombed this beautiful land?
Was it a dream that I was put behind barbwire and high fences?
Was it a dream that I lost my freedom?
Was it a dream that I was tortured there?
Was it a dream that I was imprisoned for 4 years?
Was it a dream that these Japanese soldiers were so mean?
Was it a dream that they had turned this beautiful land in a hell of misery?


Pretend it never happened.
Pretend you never knew this beautiful land of emerald.
Pretend you never climbed these beautiful mountains.
Pretend you never lived there.
Pretend you never saw these beautiful sawas.
Pretend you never saw these beautiful sunsets.
Pretend you never were in Japanese Prison camp.
Pretend it was a phantom, which broke like glass.
Pretend you just woke up.

Was it a dream?
Was I in prison, and freed?


It was not a dream!
I remember the sawas, the tropical sun, the beautiful sunsets!
I remember the beautiful mountains.
I remember the beautiful people, my friends!
I remember this peaceful land.
I remember I was so in love!
I remember my fallen friends.
I remember the hardship and the sound of whips.
I remember the hunger in these awful prison camps.
I remember my friends crying and dying.
I wish I could forget, I try so hard!
It has been so long ago
I do my best, but I remember still the same.
It makes me sad and it breaks my heart.