FATHERLAND

My country is like a child again;

hurt, bewildered and vulnerable.

It stands, surrounded by its fears,

looking for a hand to grasp to lead it to safety.

Yet in its confusion it takes the wrong hand:

the hand of money or the hand of power

or of lust.

It clutched the hand

of a fairytale princess,

every child's dream.

But even that was cruelly snatched away.

Reach out Father.

Let your love bend down,

grasp your child's hand

and lead it into liberty.