Olympian

Into the water, so clear and blue
The crowds are cheering, willing her through
She wins the heat, but the next brings tears
The dream is over for four more years

Back in the homeland she strained and strived
Each day she sweated, from e'er a child
To clinch the gold and the coloured rings
And give the hearts of the masses wings

But darkness came to her Syria
With bombs and bullets, the reign of war
Through burning Lebanon, she had to flee
Her dreams behind her, down to the sea

Into a boat there, by dark of night
With 20 strangers, all taking flight
So overburdened, the engine fails
In open water without a sail

They're too far out now, no turning back
Nothing behind them to bring them back
The young and old now will surely drown
Miles from safe harbour without a sound

Into the water, so dark and cold
Her and her sister, they pull the boat
Their faces frozen, limbs tired and weak
Over the abyss of the Aegean Sea

"Remember when we swam before school
The sea is only a bigger pool
It's just the gold now is in the boat
Tied to these rings at the ends of rope"

And if the ancients had known of her deeds
She'd be the pride of all ancient Greece
She'd have the gold and the laurel wreaths
Great Alexander would have kissed her cheek

And from that day forward most everywhere
They'd know the fame of that brave young girl
Who lost her home but who saved the dream
And held it gleaming for all to see

Who gave back hope to a world at siege
And showed through courage disgraced athletes
Who gave back meaning most real again
They chant that noble

Olympia
Olympia
Olympia
Olympia

Into the water, so clear and blue
The crowds are cheering, willing her through
She wins the heat, but the next brings tears
The dream is over for four more years