Martin Byrne

THERE’S A WIND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE

THAT BLOWS THE BLOSSOMS FROM THE TREE

      AND MANY’S THE HEART THAT SHUDDERS

WHEN IT BLOWS HARD FROM THR SEA

ONLY THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE

CAN TAME A RAGING STORM TO CALM

BUT WHEN THE SEA IS ANGRY

WHO WOULD BE A FISHERMAN

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HEAR THE WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW AS IT SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN

THERE’S TALK ON EVERYBODY’S LIPS OF A BOAT THAT HAS GONE DOWN

THE SEARCH WAS FOR SURVIVORS ALAS NOT ONE WAS FOUND

WE HUNG OUR HEADS IN DISBELIEF, AWHEN ANOTHER ONE WENT DOWN

WE CAST FLOWERS ON THE WATER

AND WE WATCHED THEM DRIFT AWAY

THEN THE MOMENT OVERTOOK US

AS WE JOINED OUR HANDS TO PRAY

NOW THE SEA BIRDS FLYING IN THE SKY

KEEP WATCH WHERE BRAVE MEN LIE

WE CAST FLOWERS ON THE WATER

AS WE SAID OUR LAST GOODBYE

CHILDREN CRYING IN THE NIGHT TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND

THE HOPES AND DREAMS THAT FILL THE HEARTS OF EVERY FISHERMAN

OUR THOUGHTS GO WITH THE RESCUE TEAM OUR PRAYERS WITH THE FAMILIES

AS A NATION WAITS IN SILENCE MOVED BY THE TRAGEDY

FROM MIZZEN HEAD TO CARNSORE POINT, FROM MALIN HEAD TO SLYNE

MAY GOD KEEP SAFE THE FISHERMEN THAT SLEEP BENEATH THE BRINE

FROM THE RISING SUN TO THE HONEYDEW TWO THE PERE CHARLES AND THE MAGGIE B

AND A THOUSAND OTHER FISHING SMACKS FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

MARTIN BYRNE