The Path of a Nation

THE PATH OF A NATION

It was the eighteenth century
That you took a breath of reality
"We hold these truths"
Your cry, a rally
of the people; for the people

Your enemy then, a great friend now
Britain its name, the strongest in the world
They demanded to crush you,
but they mistook you might
A nation not of kings and lords
but of dreamers.
Redcoat might almost brought your end.
Then enemy's enemy became a friend
And breached the superpower
To claim your path of light.
Britain would return at later date,
but its now too late.
Their force can harm you none

Now, you walk the paths of nations,
not untreaded terrain.
But ambition drove your course
beginning to grasp a continent.
You stumbled
Your might turned inward
The path shook
You were being ripped in half
Surviving, you broke the chains of slavery
Chains that slowed your march

The turmoil ended,
A continent your second prize
With gold, oil, industry thrived
A small semblance of a power yet to come

Britain, former enemy now friend,
needed your help.
And together moved Germany's path.
The crises over, you left Europe
and lived within your shores.
Germany came again,
wishing for the world.
While you watched Europe fall,
A new force emerged from beyond the Pacific wall
Its talon crashed into your island
Japan's roar set you to war anew
Your continent pulled itself from rotting death
and put itself toward one goal.
Germany was quelled again,
Its ally Japan still stood
fighting with tenacity equal to yours.
Ingenuity, won the day,
and you showed the world your real power.
Resources,
and Atomic fire.

Now the war ends.
Standing alone is you
on that stage
Then a new rival stood.

Forged in steel and red as blood.
They wished for your power and forged their own
theirs, the ability to enter the stars.
But you cannot stand to lose
Aiming higher
The moon claimed as yours
as not a trophy, but a dare
to the other nations
a declaration to strive higher.

Now your path stands before the abyss
It looked small at first
across it are other nations.
One, your new rival, China has crossed many times
and now is time for first crossing
Mighty Rome, fell to it,
a Republic like yours
The path of a nation dictates you cross
but that first step could be your last.
Your wealth is gone, industry failing,
imagination stagnating, and drive lost.
Your people, once proud, by the world seen
as ignorant, rude, and hated
So, you do something
something uncharacteristic.
You close your eyes and take that step