Why? ? ? ... About War Prisoncamp.1941-45 Poem by Tetske van der Wal

Many years have since past'
But memories forever last.
Women, children, in prison camp
Where nobody was able to give them a hand.
Put there by the Japanese regime,
With soldiers as guards so terrible mean.
Although it is so long ago,
My mind goes back to nineteen forty four.
How we women shed our tears,
In that hell for three and a halve years.
These Japanese were brutal and vicious,
Cruel and heartless and twisted.
Endless roll calls, just for fun,
Everyday in the burning hot sun.
They screamed'kiotskay' 'kiray', ' Nowray' and waved their whips,
We women knew better then to give them lip.
We kept our wits together,
Because our children, was all that matter.
When I am thinking about those years,
They come back with so much fear!
Swamped by misery, grief and pain,
We hoped God would hear his name.
We sang of his glory and begged to be heard,
We prayed, we pleaded, but never a word.
We reached for the last straw in despair,
And hoped somebody out there would care.
Why, oh why was it no help came,
Did you not hear us calling your name?
Why was it, you let innocent children die?
I will never forget that you passed by.
There was thunder and lightning all around,
I was sure you would strike these Japs to the ground.
We were in so much agony, grief and pain,
We hoped for mercy, but it never came.
There in that horrible prison camp,
You never offered a helping hand.
Most women lost their fate,
For thousands freedom came too late!
And when my time comes to face you,
I have only one question.......why? ? ?
Would you let innocent children die? ? ?

Kiotskay(attention) Kiray(bow) Nowray(stand up)