• Michael Mullins
  • Michael "The Bard" Mullin
  • "The Bard of Foremass"
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    Poems
    The Poet to the Farmer

    Your task it is to till the fields
    And so produce abundant yields
    For nourishing mankind.
    But while you plough the plain and hill
    The poet’s pen is needed still
    To plough and till the mind.

    Your noble task it is to sow
    Your seeds and tend them as they grow
    And garner them again.
    The poet sows with finer seeds
    That God may garner finer deeds
    And higher thoughts from men.

    God give you strength your work to do
    While I the rainbows arch pursue
    And search for sunset gold.
    Star-dust with heavenly dew I’ll blend
    And go on singing to the end
    Of beauties yet untold.

    While your high duties you perform
    I’ll do my best to cheer and charm
    With my poetic art
    You’ll plough and sow and reap and bind
    I’ll try to educate the mind
    And elevate the heart.

    MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘The Bard of Foremass,
    Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.
    Sent 9th Aug. 1948