Lanterns by the Luangwa

[Intro] Golden dusk, the Luan I am Thandiwe, girl of the village by the river bend Lanterns stitched from battered cans, star-woven and bright again We cut out drums of night—animal shadows on the ground We whisper to the silhouettes, “Stay with us, fair ground.” Sunset pours its colors, we set the light inside our hands Hoping tiny suns will guard us as the darkness spans [Pre-Chorus] But drought steals the oil, and the flame sighs to thin air The river runs low, our ankles taste the dry dust there [Chorus] We light a hope that glows in tin and blood-wind prayers We trust the stars to listen, and the ground to answer our cares Through drought and fear, we lantern-walk together as one Till dawn pours over the Luangwa, our resilience won [Verse 2] Under the great tree, I sit with fireflies for company Nature stirs in spark-lights—tiny suns, soft and free Elders murmur about rains, about rivers that might return I nod to the constellations and the stories I can discern [Pre-Chorus] The night trembles, but our hearts learn to keep the beat We share whispered tales of courage, of brave feet on hot heat [Chorus] We light a hope that glows in tin and blood-wind prayers We trust the stars to listen, and the ground to answer our cares Through drought and fear, we lantern-walk together as one Till dawn pours over the Luangwa, our resilience won [Bridge] Fireflies drift like little lanterns, guiding us to tomorrow The river’s song returns in whispers, easing sleep from sorrow [Chorus] We light a hope that glows in tin and blood-wind prayers We trust the stars to listen, and the ground to answer our cares Through drought and fear, we lantern-walk together as one Till dawn pours over the Luangwa, our resilience won [Outro] When oil returns and drums of night rehearse their tune We rise with the morning light, a village stronger than the dune