Heart of the World
©2007 Gibbens/Weston

Yesterday was heavy cloud
Rolling from the west and south
And blowing rain.
Today we wake up to a warmer sun,
A bright blue sky where small clouds run
And not a sign of rain.
Look how the spring begins,
Borne on an African wind –
Like a banner unfurled
From the heart of the world,
The land of imanity’s birth,
Round all four corners of the earth,
Filled to the full, filled fit to burst,
With war and plague and famine and thirst.

Get up and wash your hands and face,
Do a bit of cleaning round the place.
Looks like a whirlwind passed through.
Up till all hours with your friends,
Rolling up till you’re out of skins,
Some sweet nice rockers coming through –
Like a banner unfurled
From the heart of the world,
The land of imanity’s birth,
Round all four corners of the earth,
Filled to the full, filled fit to burst,
With plenty of hunger and bloodshed and worse.

On your bike and down to the market.
Fresh stuff, tinned stuff, stuff in packets,
Load them all into your panniers.
Then sweat back home with a whole week’s food
But the sunshine’s fine and keeping you cool
Is this wind from Africa –
Like a banner unfurled

But later on the sky turns grey,
The blackbird cries in a gust of rain
And the sirens play.
And I’ve got my own worries,
And I’ve got a life of my own –
Filled to the full, filled fit to burst,
With cause for thanksgiving and yearning and thirst.

Now despite the rising tide,
Go on your way, be not afraid –
Someone is watching over you.
And after all your foolishness
There may come a time to bless,
A time to make it new –
Like a banner unfurled
From the heart of the world,
The land of imanity’s birth,
Round all four corners of the earth,
Filled to the full, filled fit to burst,
With righteousness from the last to the first.

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