Thanks That We Can

This poem was written for the 17th of November 2019, celebration of 30 years from the Velvet Revolution, the most important day in Czech and Slovak history. Thanks to all participants in this uprising in 1989, including my mother. Without you, our country would still be occupied, unfree, unhappy. THANKS THAT WE CAN.

...

We met in the Capital

All two hundred thousand of us

***

You thought we couldn’t make it

You thought we wouldn’t fight

You thought you could rule us all

oppress us, torture us

take our land, home, identities, freedom

***

First day two hundred thousand

You laughed

We called out for help

You thought no one would listen

You thought the rest would follow you,

but

you took away our free will!

You took away our families!

You took away our rights!

You took away our lives!

***

First day two hundred thousand

You laughed

We called out for help

You thought no one would listen

You thought the rest would follow you,

but

our shouts were heard!

Heard by people not accepting the fate you decided for them!

Heard by warriors finding their voices!

Heard by the brave ones fighting for the future!

Heard by us, fighters, taking back our country!

***

First day two hundred thousand

Next day the whole nation