THE SAD YEARS
THE QUEEN
I saw her many years ago, my gladness and my grief.
She stood amongst the barley fields to bind the wayward sheaf.
She walked upon the mountain's side to draw the brown turf home,
She planted many famine crops within the peaty loam.
From rugged rocks and silver shore she gathered grey sloakeen.
She made the green earth brown again, and made the brown earth green.
She wearied in those striving years from morning until night.
Her fields grew wide, her stately home shone in the morning light.
But oh, those hours of yesterday, mo storeen and mo crie,
I saw her turn her face away to hide her grief from me.
I flew to her a while ago, my thousand joys—so dear;
For ruin fell upon her house and I was full of fear.
