We crossed th’ Ocean Sea
We who dared
We filled oor sails
At th’ mercy o’ th’ trade win’s
We left th’ Old World
An’ found th’ One World
We wer humble men o’ th’ sea
It was nae oor intent
Tae turn th’ page o’ history.
I pray yee carve these words
On th’ stone above me head
On th’ day I breathe me last.
This night time passing,
This darkened dome that reigns upon us all
in our hour o’ fear,
This nightly milling o’ th’ stars,
Showers doon upon us its
blessed meteors o’ darkness,
moistens th’ sighted eye
an’ brings rest tea th’ lidded redness.
This ghostly passing,
this darkened dimmed iris
breathes welcome,
breathes welcome tae th’ great an’ silent shadows.
This nocturnal passing that shields us from the sun,
Bids us welcome, safe harbour,
Safe entry intae th’ hollows o’ wondrous dreams.
This be th’ time o’ darkness.
It is th’ time tae drift intae th’ hearto’ God,
tae touch briefly intae th’ meaning,
intae th’ timeless,
until th’ dawning unravels in a splash o’ brilliant rays,
until th’ dawning conquers.
This is th’ time tea settle among th’ night sounds,
tae utter th’ most ancient prayer:
One mair, one mair.
This time.
This is thae time,
Let thare be
one mair day.
Let th’ morning
bring surprise.
Let th’ sun glow upon us
one mair,
one mair time.
Days o’ nights, nights o’ thunder
Winds tha’ bring th’ plagues o’ nightfall,
Dip your hyssop intae th’ bloody pool an’
Pray th’ Dark One shall pass by.
Thare be weeping on oor shores,
An’ in oor camps.
Thare be cursing at the’ demons o’ th’ fevers
Thay mak oor lives a cursed misery,
A punishment tae be among th’ living.
Th’ bad air spares nae a man
Frae th’ fevers an’ th’ chills, an th’ anal drips.
Nae a mercy tae th’ innocent an’ th’ blameless, in
This land o’ th’ terrible judgement.
I am Calypso
An’ I wull gi’e yee shelter
I wull be yer safe harbor
I wull be yer singer o’ songs
I wull spread me golden wings
An’ spare yee frea th’ storm
thare wull be nae place else
nae other home yee wull need
nae other home yee wull remember
frae sunrise tae sunrise
yee wull call oot me name
yee wull speak o’ nae other.
I am Calypso
I wull be yer safe harbor
Nae a ship wull seek thee
Nae other tongue
Wull call oot yer name
In th’ high mountain
Yee wull be welcome
Yee wull walk among th’ giants
Unleashed frae th’ tethers
O’ th’ earth
Unleashed frae th’ lan’ o’ sorrows
I am Calypso
Touch me hem an’ follow
Th’ scent tae th’ lan’ o’ th’ lotus
We wull eat o’ th’ fruit
We wull eat o’ th’ flower
And taste th’ sky in th’
Halls o’ th’ mountain
I wull be yer queen
An’ yee wull be me king
What is the way?
Whaur be the land o’ oor deliverance?
Whaur can I find me rest?
Whaur be the gentle waters?
Whaur be the soothing rays awe Sun?
Though I be a humble man
Not worthy o’ the prize
Yet dare to ask
This simple man o’ th’ sea
I seek no further than
Tae find th’ morrow
Tae gaze upon the
Colors o’ the nightfall
An’ the cool rising o’ th’ morn
I wonder through me watch
Will there be a day
With nae questions in me heart?
A hearth to keep the home fires burning
Crackling embers tae warm the night
The soft breathing of me true love by me side
Stars tae dream upon
Moon tae guide me footsteps
Wind and rain to moisten a thirsty land
Whaur be this place?
Fer this simple man o’ th’ sea
whaur I will find me rest
Whaur I will seek no mair
Beyond the stones o’ me garden.
Wha’ be th’ recompence faur yer soul?
Wha’ be th’ value tha’ ye place upon it?
Whaur be stowed away thy hidden treasure?
Whaur be th’ keeper awe th’ gate?
Who wull be standing by yer side
Whe’ th’ battle drums are rattled.
Who spares a token faur th’ tiller man?
When yer eyes are weak an’
yer breathing be shallow?
Thare will be nae judgement
On this side foor th’ good an’ th’ evil
Yee have done.
Thair will be nae shame,
Only passing momen’s
Till yee breathe nae mair
Thair will be nae flamin’ chariots,
Nae cherubim tae lead th’ way.
You cannah touch His han’
yee cannah heer His voice.
Yee cannah use yer voice
An’ yee cannah use yer tears.
Bairns Awe th’ Lord
Will be yer new name
In th’ land o’ Tir Nan Og.
Th’ worl’ we left behind
is in tatters.
Wars, famines, plagues
Attack at oor very will tae live.
Here, oan th’ far side o’ this orb
Th’ win’ is idle.
For weeks oan end,
Not a puff tea put a billow in th’ sails.
Th’ seas are ae glassy finish,
Nae a wave,
Nae a current tae move th’ seas.
Nea a tide tae splash upon th’ san’s.
Nae a bird in th’ sky.
Nae a sign o’ change in th’ weather.
Nae a soun’ save faur our breathing
Nae water tae slake oor thirst
Nae a fish tae fill our nets.
Ere’thin is brok’n.
Tis in oor weary eyes
Tae call upon th’ god o’ sleep.
May Hypnos tak us beyon’
This weary sea.
Nothing finds favor.
Not even th’ cauld stones
Find rest inside th’ river bed.
Nothing finds favor
In this man’s mortal world
Where none is proven worthy.
Nothing finds favor.
Nae beasty is called upon
Tae send doon destruction.
Nothing finds favor.
Nae air remains to breathe
Inside our weary lungs.
Nothing finds favor.
In th’ eye o’ th’ storm
No supplications will be heeded.
Worms on th’ outside
Rot on th’ inside,
Nae shelter frae th’ elements.
Nothing finds favor.
Canvas torn tae shreds,
Masts in splinters.
Nothing finds favor.
Nothing save th’ whisper,
“Tis I”
Whaur wuz me mother’s arms
When I was gasping for air
wi’ th’ black mouth fevers an’ chills?
Whaur wuz she when serpents
fell like rain an struck
their venom intae oor throats?
When lightning bolts an’ tunder
Splintered oor hulls an
Tore apart our decks?
When waves like mountains
Crashed upon us an’
Sent us asunder?
Whaur were thos’ momen’s
Whe’ e’rythin wuz clear
As I set me eyes upon th’ Cruces?
Whe’ th’ sithar strings
an’ th’ dance steps
marched ah’ thru’ th’ evening?
As nights marched
throo the seasons
an’ left us marooned
to be lost forever
beyon’ th’ reach o’ th’
Living God?
Whaur wuz she?
Whaur were thay?
Winter comes upon us
Wi’ a cauld ‘n’ lonely win`.
Like rain it brings th’ lilac
shadows o’ evening light,
Th’ lowly mist spreads
empty chills across
Th’ clear an’ purple night.
Winter comes upon us
Wi’ th’ howling o’ th’ win`
Winter comes upon us
wi’ th’ howling o’ th’ win`.
Like th’ dry leaves
Tha’ rattle in th’ trees,
An’ th’ fallen leaves
Tha’ scrape along th’ lanes.
Winter comes upon us
Wi’ th’ carriage o’ th’ win’
Winter comes upon us
Wi’ th’ carriage o’ th’ win’.
It leaves us empty o’ th’
Songs o’ swallows chirping
In th’ eaves,
An’ brings us snuggling tae th’
Red coals crackling.
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter dances on a
Dark an’ lonely road.
Bird nests dangle in a
Broken spider’s web
I hear them humming
In th’ solace o’ thair work.
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter dances on a dark
An’ lonely corner, she
Sparkles, lyte beams
Tha’ lan’ upon th’ street,
Spreads whyte vapours
Frae each an’ every breath.
Winter rains upon a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter rains upon a dark
An’ lonely road, she
Washes clean th’ dust
Upon me leathery skin, an’
Brings th’ dark an’ yearnings
fur th’ comin’ o’ th’ day.
Winter comes wi’ a cold an’ lonely win’
Winter comes upon us wi’ a cauld ‘n’ lonely win’.
Like rain we dance upon th’ lilac shadows an’ evenin’ light,
Th’ lowly mist spreads empty chills across th’ clear an’ purple night
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ howling o’ th’ win`.
Winter comes upon us wi’ a cauld ‘n’ lonely win’.
It brings wi’ a stab the lilac shadows night.
The lowly mist spreads empty chills o’er th’ clear an’ purple night.
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ howling o’ th’ win`.
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ howling o’ th’ win’,
An’ scrape o’r cobblestone lanes
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ carriage o’ th’ win’.
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ carriage o’ th’ win`.
Winter comes upon us wi’ th’ carriage o’ th’ win’.
It leaves us empty of th’ swallows chirping in th’ eaves
An’ brings us snuggling tae th’ red coals crackling,
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road.
Bird nests dangle in a broken spider web.
I hear them humming in th’ solace o’ thair work.
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter dances on a dark an’ lonely road,
Sparkles, light beams, tha’ lan’ upon th’ street,
Spread white vapours frae each an’ every breath.
Winter rains upon a dark an’ lonely road.
Winter rains upon a dark an’ lonely road,
Washes clean th’ dust upon me leathery skin,
Brings th’ dark an’ yearnings fur th’ coming o’ th’ day.
Winter comes wi’ a cold an’ lonely win’.
