*Lest we Forget

Silent shadows filing up the tropical mountains
Forced death march by the conqueror  
God turned away from his children  
Who fought and killed for dominance of His creations  
In a land other than their own  
 
Full blasts, angry greedy minds of puny leaders  
the winds from the mighty six  
words written on parchment  
gentle calligraphy Suzuki’s dragons  
the winds of war rages over the sea  
 
swords forgetting the laws of Bushido  
now ground the meek, force the inhabitants  
to bow to their mighty civilisation,  
the proud  Flag of the Rising Sun flew  
they seeded the skies with death  
 
destruction over Borneo, over the Pinoys  
over the Sulus, the kings of the seas  
the sea dwellers, the seafarers  
the tribal hill  warriors  
the graceful plains people  
 
the worshippers of the emperor  
who reigned under bright peace  
enlightened harmony, Shōwa  
awoke the sky with man-made lightning  
The ground shook with thunder  
 
The innocent lost their loved ones  
lost their innocence  
Hell's gate opened, paradise lost,  
fruits of rape, pillage and plunder  
on sombre ground planted  
 
Of mindless acts urged by lust  
hate and anger  
The Islanders know still  
 
We will always remember.
 
The Second World War (South East Asia)