A mug of té an’ soda bread,
freshly baked an’ butter spread.
A rake of eggs, a pinch of salt,
to face the cold, a ball of malt.
“Take care yerself me darlin’ man,
be broth therein yer billycan.
I’ll pray ye well, I’ll wait the day.”
An’ she did kiss me, “Fare yer way.”
Me hat, me boots, a heavy coat
where crow, the fox, the mountain goat.
Me cane, me pipe an’ loyal mutt,
o’er stock an’ stone an’ full me gut.
An early lamb, a slaughtered ewe,
them cussed curs, what ills they do.
The scattered flock a yon an’ nigh
an’ hectic we, the mutt and I.
To roundin’ up an’ breakin’ bales
in heavy snows an’ yowlin’ gales.
As cold as sure as fades the light
an’ pray we home afore the night.
What doin’s, done, we on our way,
all fed an’ penned the flock an’ stray.
The early lamb we’ll care at home,
we’ll keep her warm an’ nay alone.
Need hardy be, when all be said
or winter’s harms would see ye dead.
Pray, e’en to home be tough our lot,
in weathers fierce, in worries got.
Come into night be footin’ wise,
a find me way with weary eyes.
Nay stars be ’bout, as black as pitch,
a cruel a beast is winter’s bitch.
Hail yonder light, a welcome be,
’neath thatch an’ stove, a ghrá mo chroí.
“Come in, begad, me darlin’ man,
yer coat, yer hat, yer billycan.”
“The tub be full an’ soapin’ hot,
come scrub ye down, ye’ve done yer lot.
Pray, rid ye of yer sweat an’ grime,
God bless the toil, me darlin’ mine.”
“Betake yerself the table set,
pray, hungry ye, I surely bet.
Be taters, aye, an’ plenty too,
a steamin’ pot of beefin’ stew.”
“An’ how’s about a ball of malt
to warm ye from the cold assault.”
She fed the mutt an’ cared the lamb
an’ poured for me another dram.
She stoked the embers, stirred the pot.
“Be careful now the plate be hot.”
She rushed about in merriment,
the lamb, the mutt an’ me content.