My "Why?" is rather different to the recent entry bearing the same title.....

WHY?

I wrote ‘Why?’ with a humble spirit, with a dim yet acute awareness of how Jewish people have suffered for so long, at the hands of so many, in so many senseless, cruel ways. I cannot possibly understand their suffering, but I can empathise: this was written not to offend all those whose suffering will mark the pages of history in spilled blood and shame. No! – It was written out of a great love for the Jewish people. I was moved to pen these words: of course I cannot know what the people I have described went through as I was born at the end of world war two – in 1944. But I can offer my words to you as a humble, unknowing - yet sensing in part - glimpse of your sufferings. Forgive me if I offend you: I write this only as tribute to those whose suffering will – please Lord – never be forgotten. This is only a small part of their story. It is my tribute to them. I pray that it will touch your heart, bless you, and cause you to remember afresh the fragility of life; the curse of hatred – but, more, that

 

The eternal flame of love is stronger

Than all the forces of evil:

God’s hand lit the flame.

 

It never dies.

 

WHY?

 

All that coarse yellow furze

Either side, of our course

Seemed so bright:

Was there hope yet in sight? –

Would we waken, delight,

See new dawn?

 

No.

 

We might, though,

Had we time to pause, stoop, smell,

For a time, escape hell:

 

No remorse was the answer we knew –

Though the guards were but few,

Our poor numbers were cowed –

Before victors, we bowed –

 

Barely hoping that we

Would one far-off day see

Freedom, peace, harmony –

 

I caught sight of Jacob, my friend,

And so low did he bend –

 

Then he caught sight of me,

 

My friend! – your eyes! - what sadness they held –

Deep despair I beheld.

 

Therein a sin!````````

A great sin! – a very great sin! -

 

 

You’re a pale shadow of

Friend I knew -  “Mazeltov!”

Was so often our joy

To shout out, man and boy!

 

Hold up, friend of my youth! –

Though the guards are uncouth –

And we’ve lived, hungrily,

Through all hell, you and me,

We must not give up now! –

Stand firm, brother, I vow

 

I will stand beside you,

Though the jack boots deal pain,

And the lime pits yawn wide:

More kicks! – Jacob, again –

 

Take that shovel, like me:

They are thirsting to see

When we’ve dug our own graves,

See us falling like waves

On a sea of despair:

Almost there!  Almost there!

 

 

GUNSHOTS THUNDER: I  FALL

AND MY LAST THOUGHT OF ALL:

HOW THE COARSE YELLOW FURZE

LIT MY FINAL, BRIGHT, CURSE