Sweep on, mighty River! at heaven’s command
And sever the border that severs our land.
You have severed it once you have severed it twice
The next cut you give it no tyrant shall splice.
From the land of the Free, through the land of the slave
Through the border again to the welcoming wave.
Sedately and grandly and proudly you flow.
Defying the tactics of traitor or foe.
Your beauty by bards thro’ the ages was sung
Your fame down the annals of Erin has rung
Your name’s proudly named – it is twice to be seen
In the grandest best song of our dark Rosaleen.
You were old when our nation arose like a star
Spreading learning and light among nations afar
Still old and yet young you beheld its oerthrow.
In a flood of red blood and a blizzard of woe.
And Erne! like a queen moving down to the shore
You shall greet the glad day when the border’s no more.
Your currents of light like a sun bursting forth
You shall banish dark bigotry far from the North.
MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘The Bard of Foremass’
Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone
Sent 30th June ‘48