If You Know

If you know the taste of salt on your lips,

The sting of tears, the bitter drips,

The weight of loss, the ache of pain,

Then you know the depths of the human vein.

If you know the thrill of victory's flight,

The warmth of love, the guiding light,

The joy of hope, the power of dreams,

Then you know the soul's deepest schemes.

If you know the quiet of a starlit night,

The roar of thunder, the morning light,

The beauty of nature, the wild and free,

Then you know the essence of humanity.

If you know the depths of your own heart,

The secrets hidden, torn apart,

The strength within, the courage to stand,

Then you know the meaning of this land.