She was just a girl, an ordinary girl;
Different from nobody, and yet unique;
Unique, not because she was famous,
Or because she was rich,
But because she was a Jew.

Forced into hiding for what she was
Without a reason, without a cause.
Hiding from the eyes of the world at large
While Hitler’s forces continued their charge.

Not a noise or a peep to be heard
Yet no despairing word
Passed through her lips.
Burdened with problems,
Studies, responsibilities,
She trudged on with her life.

Father, mother, all were there
For such an experience couldn’t shatter the pair.
And while the bombs rained all night
Poor Anne was beside herself with fright.
When ‘twas solitude she sought
Pop, Phien, Emmy,
Marianne, Jetty, Loutje,
Conny, Jackie, Kitty,
They all were there
To console, to pacify,
To hear her out.
She is my inspiration
Due to her desperation
For justice, for equality, for peace
Even when the war efforts were increased.
In her loneliness she found another
The lonely carpenter,
The keeper of the cat,
Her dear Peter.

Seasons passed while planes gunned the streets,
While the Germans perfected their Blitzkrieg.
Months gone and years crossed
While Anne’s childhood was lost.

And so, she is my inspiration:

Annelise Marie “Anne” Frank.
Young, strong, brave,
Talented, smart, innocent,
There she was,
My hero
My inspiration.