Newfoundland Song Poem by Patrick O'Reilly

I took a walk on the jagged rocks
On the foggy shores of home.
The ocean rolled and ripples bloomed
As I gently skipped a stone.
A chilling breeze from the north east
Set a stirring in my bones
As I took a walk, thinking of
Those days, so long ago.

I climbed atop of the rocky Mount
And looked out to the sea
Where generations of hard men
Toiled hearty, brave, and free.
The waves made din crashing in
And the whales began to blow
As I thought about the happy days
We spent so long ago.

Sweet Mary-Lee was a sight to see,
With her hair a sandy brown,
And all the boys were after her
In the bays and in the town.
Said she’d wait for me ‘til eternity
But that was forever ago
And I sighed about those happy days
We spent so long ago.

Feeling lonesome under the moon
I went to the old home place
The memories burned into me
Like scars I can’t erase
The little house beneath the hill
Where we swore we’d ne’er get old
Was gone with those happy days
We passed so long ago.

The neighbour’s homes were all the same,
Not a single soul in sight.
To seek their fortunes up along,
They took off like birds in flight.
Barron’s stage had washed away
And gone was the general store
That was all hustle and bustle in
Those days so long ago.

I awoke far away
And all had been a dream.
A single tear for my homeland dear
Became a flooding stream.
The meadow lark, on the edge of dark,
Tormented me with the Ode
And I longed for those happy days
Long gone so long ago.