The Winding River Roe

Some poets sing of a noble king, or of a sweetheart fair,

Some tell a tale of ships that sail with treasures rich and rare,

But my humble pen still drifts again to the scenes of long ago,

Across the sea to the Benedy and the winding river Roe.

Right well do I remember now, those happy childhood days,

and the times I had, when just a lad on Carn's lovely Braes,

And when my mind is thus inclined no other joys I know,

For my heart remains on the verdant plains, by the winding river Roe.

Benbradagh's crown o'er Dungiven Town is still within my view,

The Benedy Glen I worshipped then still lives in memory too,

the beautiful scene of Cashel Green still haunts where' erI go,

And in all my dreams I see it seems, the winding river Roe

T' was my delight on a summer night, by Corick Bridge to stand,

And watch the trout, as they leaped about, in their watery fairyland,

While the moon above bestowed its love on the peaceful glen below,

And an Angel's Song was borne along by the winding river Roe.

If fortune smiles on me a while, I'll cross the sea again,

And all these years of toil and tears will be forgotten then;

And when at last my life has passed, contentedly I'll go,

With my last request, then just to rest near the winding river Roe.