For Rayna 

Rayna, Rayna, oh Rayna,
You are a gift from God,
With blonde hair and sea blue eyes
Like Marilyn Monroe-
Her struggle, and your own
Weave a blanket of humanity-
You began life too early,
Yes, far too early,
And Marilyn, she died far too young,
Way too young,
Is it mere coincidence? 

A tragic young woman-- 
Marilyn was drafted by the drugs 
she took to ease her pain,
And an industry that would not 
love her as she was, 
born Norma Jean, 
Oh Norma Jean, oh Norma Jean-
She could not feel the love,
Only the pain…

"Hush little baby, don't say a word,
and nobody will notice you -
Hush little baby, don't you cry,
Maybe God will just let you die…
Don't you know, God is testing mama,
I don't know how to love a crippled baby,
may the nurse let you suffocate
Oh God have mercy on me!  
That would be such a blessing." 

But God's angels stood watch over you, 
Made you so strong, made you smart,
Made you so beautiful…
He gave you that indomitable spirit,
Born too early, Rayna was 
Yes she was born too early, 
But her spirit triumphed, 
Many falls, many hurts,
Many days, many years alone…

 
Mama and papa rejected Rayna's sunny smile,
More concerned with
Her way of walking,
And her way of talking,
Oh it just must've hurt too much
To see their little baby stumble and try
Stumble and try again, and again...
But those tested by God's fire,
Are stronger than the ones who can 
run a hundred miles…

Now Rayna is a fine young woman,
Left her homeland for Australia
The newest frontier, 
Oh yes, she's a pioneer,
With that pretty smile,
And a caring heart,
She is a crusader of Life
With a fire in her belly
Hot enough to pierce through lies….

Oh Rayna, Oh Rayna,
You are a gift from God….
And if I need to repeat this 
Over and over to you,
Then I will……
Sing it to you all your life!


Tamar Raine
Dec. 3, 2001