ODE TO ELIAN:
©
2000 by Lydia Glider-Shelley
Verse 1:
There was a sweet little Cuban boy
who survived the ocean blue
he set out on a raft to America...
the Land of the Free...
He
was his mother’s
pride and joy
her dying wish for him, he knew,
was to live a life of love, peace, and liberty.
Chorus:
Elian o Elian o rescued by a fisherman
did the dolphins tell you
where you are meant to be?
Elian o Elian o no one seems to understand
the tragedy that you went through
out there upon the sea
(o o o o)
Verse 2:
In Miami there was family
who embraced him heart and soul
when he was found alive in an inner tube
they rushed to his side
The story became history
with the relatives highest goal
to keep this child they had nurtured
with so much pride
(repeat chorus)
Verse 3:
When the father wanted his son back
Castro sent him to retrieve
the little angel whom the world now adored
and bring him back home
His caregivers came under attack
yet they still tried hard to believe
in the courts they’d win
custody of their dear ward
bridge:
he was taken out by force
from those who refused to budge
but finally now father had his son
and the protest ran its course
before yet another judge...
the question here is who has really won?
(shout Elian!)
(repeat chorus)