Bushfire prayers

I pray that the people are safe
I wish I could console them
for they have hurt where I have not
I shall cry when I embrace them

I pray that all the children can smile
if not today, then in a little while
I wish I could go and play with them
then at the end of the day when its time to turn in
they'd smile as they head for their tents in the breeze
and shine just as much for their parents as for me

I pray that the hearts of our nation will be enough
to ease the pain of hearts lost to ashes and dust
I wish my heart could be enough
(though its not solely mine, and its quite rough)
to warm the hearts cold from bitter inferno
and shorten the journey thats a long way to go

I pray the rains will come
and flood our fires, as tears have done
to fathers and brothers and sisters and mums
to grampas and grandmas and cousins as one
to those who have heard of a friend gone today
you'd think all the tears would make the fire go away

But the fire still burns
and the losses still hurt
and our hearts hurt with them
though not as much
So its time to rebuild
help their hearts where we can
send them a hug
boy to girl, man to man
Give them a base
on which to rebuild
and thank the good world
that some people survived