Martin Byrne

A DARKENING SHADOW CREPT OVER US ALL

LIKE A THIEF THAT COMES IN THE NIGHT

WITH NO FOOD ON THE TABLE AND NOTHING IN STORE

THE LAND IT LAY STRICKEN WITH BLIGHT

SO THEY GAVE US A SHIP AND A PASSAGE AWAY

BEYOND WHERE THE GREAT WATERS FLOW

WITH NOTHING TO PACK BUT THE CLOTHES ON OUR BACK

IN INNOCENCE WE WENT BELOW

WE SPENT SIXTY ONE DAYS AND SIXTY ONE NIGHTS IN HELL

ALL DIGNITY BANISHED AS WE LAY MID THE SICKNESS AND SMELL

MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WE ALL LOOKED THE SAME

LIKE A GHOST INA HALF HUMAN SHELL

WE SPENT SIXTY ONE DAYS AND SIXTY ONE NIGHTS IN THIS HELL

LIKE OLD CARDBOARD BOXES PACKED UP ON A SHELF

EACH FAMILY LAY HUDDLED INSIDE

FROM THE THICKENING DARKNESS CAME THE CREAKING OF BONES

AS WE FOUGHT THE ATLANTIC TIDE

WITH NOTHING BEHIND US OUR GOD KNOWS BEFORE US

WE PRAYED THAT OUR SOULS MIGHT BE SAVED

BUT THE ONLY REPLY WAS THE PITIFUL CRIES

OF ONE MORE TO A WATERY GRAVE

JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO END IN SIGHT

THEY FINALLY OPENED THE DOOR

IN THE SUN’S BLINDING LIGHT THO WE BARELY COULD WALK

WE DRAGGED OURSELVES UP ON THE SHORE

AS WE FELL TO THE GROUND I AWOKE TO THE SOUND

OF A DISTANT CATHEDRAL BELL

AND I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT WE WERE IN HEAVEN

FOR GOD KNOWS WE HAD JUST COME FROM HELL

MARTIN BYRNE