Why

You never told me
         how it was
         while you were
         in the camps.
I never knew about
         the showers of
         choking gas
         that mama took.
I never heard about
         the medical
         “examinations”
         given to sister Margie.

You never said a word
         about leaving me
         with the people who
         have become my family
         since you went away.
You never told me anything
         about working
         in rags and chains
         without anything
         to eat for days.

Why did you suddenly show up?
         But have never said a word
         about what happened
Until I am
         about to lose you
         because of a time
         I never knew about?