I dreamt last night the dream of youth
I hoped youth’s hope again;
The dream of innocence and truth,
The hope so high and vain.
I woke to find that Time is still
A forward flowing stream;
That pauses at no obstacle,
And dallies for no dream.
Old Father Time has turned the years
Like pages of a book;
And now a river wide appears
What once appeared a brook.
But though I cannot stop the stream
Which sweeps me out to sea,
I still can dream the golden dream
That brings back youth to me.
MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘THE BARD OF FOREMASS’
Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.
Won in Independent 1pound 10 shillings
See also Irish Weekly Independent – January 22 – 1959
Long years I sought, without success
The key to the house of happiness.
I thought this key should be the same
As keys which open doors of fame
And wealth and power. I tried each but
The door of happiness stayed shut.
As years rolled by I tried again
With other keys; but tried in vain.
At last I found the only key
Which worked. It is called charity.
And this key opens wide the door
Of happiness, now and evermore.
MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘THE BARD OF FOREMASS’
Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.
Charity – love
1968
The road I go has many a straight and bend
And up and down. I can’t see where ‘twill end.
I cannot see ahead; nor do I know
If it be short or long – the road I go.
But I can see behind me: far, far back
The eyes of Memory discern the track.
Some roads have milestones. But the road I climb
Is measured, not by miles, but years of Time.
Here is another New Year book. On white
Pages it is my privilege to write,
Now God help me to do and think and say
The right things at the right time, the right way.
MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘THE BARD OF FOREMASS’
Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.
Sunday Independent &
Cork Weekly Examiner
28.12.67