This was the land of my ancestors

Where finding sweet water was a daily fight

Where daily the work of survival

was a grinding epic plight

The Great Dive brought home many gems

That seemed as though they dimmed the moon

But left so many youths behind

Whose lives were dimmed too soon.

The noble palm tree gave us shelter

And kept our bodies from the sun.

It gave us food and shade and rest

Its generosity second to none.

Despite the harshness of the land

Its people smiled and found a way to live,

With little to claim for their own

Yet still they managed to freely give.

The fish flowed from sea to land

And we desert dwellers could eat like kings.

The bounty both fed us and gave us the means

to barter for other needed things.

Although we carried always with us

The cold protection of daggers and guns

Yet warmly we welcomed our visitors with coffee

And spoke with them of our daughters and sons.