Ballad of Mentawai the Marked One

One day my daughter came to me with tears wrapped up in her eyes,

And she spoke to me a question that did come as a surprise.     

She said father I have seen the world and I’ve heard all of the lies.

But how can folk so jaded hide behind false alibis?

 

This earth here is a cruel one, Thieves and murderers run free,

They become our politicians while the good folk let it be.

Oh what happened to the hope father, oh where went the chivalry?

The world here has lost itself, where does that leave you and me?

 

And I said Sarhaga my sweet daughter,

Lay your head against the sand…

One day this chapter will have passed,

Hope must not leave your hand.

 

I glanced upon my daughter and I wiped away her tears,

I said “Sara you do make me proud, grown wiser than your years. 

The hearts of most are empty, blinded by their greed and fears.

They do not hear a dying world, they do not use their ears."

 

"History might repeat itself but who’d listen to what’d it’d say?

But my daughter we must remember we all will fall short some way.

No man alive is never wrong, and for this here I pray:

You’ll listen to the fallen, and you’ll help them stand one day."

 

And I said Sarhaga my sweet daughter,

Lay your head against the sand…

One day this chapter will have passed,

Hope must not leave your hand.

 

My daughter stared in silence as she listened to my speech,

Her breath parted her more easy but calm was just out of reach.

I said "This path is not an easy one, to practice or to preach,"

And I spoke to her the same words my own father chose to teach.

 

"We all here have our calling from which we from dust are made,

To be a beacon unto others, to help guide them from their jade.

So do not mourn the passing of the just and of the brave.

They have their place in heaven, where we will not be afraid."

 

And I said Sarhaga my sweet daughter,

Lay your head against the sand…

One day this chapter will have passed,

Hope must not leave your hand.

 

And she said "Papa oh how will I know to difference right from wrong?

How will I hold this calling when the good around has gone?

How care I for the many when they join not in our song?

My voice it is a small one, where will I know where I belong?"

 

I nodded to my daughter, "You only do of what you can.

Forget not the arms above you when you need another hand.

But remember when your tire, lay your head against the sand.

Soon will come the dawn of morning and the Gods will help you stand."   

 

And I said Sarhaga my sweet daughter,

Lay your head against the sand…

One day this chapter will have passed,

Hope must not leave your hand….