Everybody is staring expectantly
Some glaring with trepidation
It moves swiftly, a second at a time
Born into darkness

All eyes on you, child.
Will you be friend or foe?
All our wishes and prayers are yours
Will you make or break us?

You shall be the one to save us
Take our offerings of hope
Grant a wish
Make us proud

Curiously, it emerges
from the depths of a former shell
Greeted with cheers
and colourful explosions

They cover it with thin paper towels
Protect it from the cold winter rain
with warm words of wisdom
crumbling as they land

Lest you fail, golden one.
You shall be blamed for everything
Except success
They’ll own that

I’d ask you to stay hidden
But you must emerge
It is the way of your kind
It’s always been this way

I will not celebrate your arrival
I will not shout nor dance
I will not make any promises
And I won’t expect a thing in return

But I will do my best
Walk with you, my strange friend
Hand in hand, one day at a time
And commemorate us when you depart