Seamus (Heaney)

Seamus (Heaney)

Who, now
that cruel winter's wind hath swept away
the flower of our spring,
will turn
sods of conscience, exposing those who bray,
when others choose to sing
and...learn?

Who now,
will rise, and shed a light on blackest dawn,
that all may see the path,
and guide
the blind, or those, who will not see, but fawn
and courting anger's wrath,
abide?

Who now,
will raise the standard, with humility,
that we may gather to,
in trust,
all hoping that we do so honestly,
and knowing, to be true,
we must?

Who now,
will don His boots, in lonely furrow tend
 -be it, but murky fen -
each sprig.
To stand and though much vilified, defend
the arming, with squat pen....
to dig.

Chris Birrane