Here I stand and here I stay,
In an alluring old town of Sicily,
Vast blue mountains night and day,
And wild flowers in the fields,
The decrepit stone street in which we play,
Will never be the same.
Conflict and battle consumes every day,
Whilst struggle and darkness swallows me,
Memories in colour slowly fade away,
Replaced by pain and terror,
Crying, we bow down on bruised knees to pray,
Throughout chaos and destruction, we had hope.
Hope of new growth and happiness once more,
Which luckily followed the warfare,
Love and joy, someone I could adore,
Finally enters my life.
We dance together with passion,
A feeling of affection and love,
Sharing warmth and compassion,
Followed by matrimony.
Yet darkness grasped me once more,
Filling me with unbearable pain,
A policeman at my door,
I would never see my husband again,
I found no strength to breathe anymore,
And our daughter I couldn't save,
Our family teared apart,
On my heart they will always be engraved.
Everything was taken from me,
No light in the darkness to be found,
This town means nothing to me,
And I vowed to never return,
Australia, far beyond the sea,
Through fear, I find hope.
Once more there is love in my life,
And a family to care for too,
Now a proud mother and a wife,
With a home in which we all grew,
Finally the flowers blossomed,
Like poppies on a battle field;
After all the depression,
Colour and warmth could still break through.
Yet my happiness could never be,
The day my husband never came home,
Another stab in the heart for me,
That my children could not comprehend,
That moment my child spoke,
When is daddy coming home.
On tears we would all choke,
Screaming and crying, "not again,"
Another battle to fight,
With no support from anyone,
There was no happiness in sight,
Only struggle for my children and I,
Its seems to always be me,
Who is ripped and and pulled apart,
Why can't I just be?
Through pain and grief, we found hope.
After many years, I still stand,
And now my hair is grey,
I hold my granddaughter's hand,
Finally things are okay,
Yet there is still a battle to fight,
One of cancer that brings me pain,
Yet through this battle there is light,
And of course, there is hope.
Here she still stands, my Nonna,
A brave and strong woman indeed,
I always remember her story,
That she suffered in times of need,
After all she has been through,
She still stands proud and tall,
Her laughter will always be true,
And her hope will be stronger than all.
