A day that changed my life

October 20th 1996, was a day that changed everything
one simple left turn, and it was all or nothing
a simple long weekend trip was all it took
the memories of what happened next, had as all a little shook

It didn't make much sense that we had two vehicles that day
if the trees of Yala could speak, it would talk about this story today
simply put the second vehicle brought six souls home that night
they would all agree that the events of this day, gave us a fright

By around 10am, we had seen most of what there was to see
except the leopard, which was as elusive as can be
our guide told us to take a left up ahead
greeted by armed men escorting white vans, we all thought we would end up dead

We stopped dead in our tracks, they opened the doors of the car
what happened there after was testament to the situation in our country by far
'take us to the manik ganga' they said, and we did what we were told
I'll never forget the events of this day,  even when I'm old

It was later we realized, that these men were young
they were actually kind and polite, and not at all high strung
they were not the animals they were made out to be, despite how they look
thankfully they didn't harm us, but our vehicles they took

Two vans, two Defenders, a Hilux and a Pajero, was all we had
the only time I broke, was when I lost sight of my dad
all the vehicles taken, except for the Pajero we own
non of us were sure, we'd ever make it home

After a few hours had passed and we still weren't sure
when they came back, into circle they lured
'will we die?' was all that went through our minds
they took me to the center, I was only 11 at the time

With the guns by my head, reluctant with every step
T-56s all over the place,faced with possible death
they spoke of children in there home town were killed
nothing could describe the fear that instilled

But then they promised they wouldn't harm us unless we were army
cos their ammo was reserved for political and military targets only
despite this we were still uncertain if we escape this situation
until they let me go back to my father, a wrong move meant curtains

Then they let us go home, and we raced out the park so quickly
before we left, one of them spoke to me and called me 'mallie'
once we left the park to the police station did we race
when they went into the park, they couldn't find a trace

This was a day that changed my life forever
we're all so lucky to still be together
I'll never forget the events of that day ever
it will remain in my memory, forever