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In the Sunny Long Ago
6.
The Rocks of Merasheen
The first poetry reading I ever went to was in St. John's. Most
of the poets were fellow-students or faculty at Memorial University,
among them the talented Al Pittman, poet, song-maker, playwright
and friend. Al's family came from Merasheen Island, which was evacuated
in a government scheme during his childhood. The song is more of
a romantic fiction than an account of the true adversity of his
people. I can't promise this is exactly as he wrote it - in fact
I know it's not, as I've never seen Al's words but only heard them.
This version is therefore 'from oral tradition', adapted (to a woman's
point of view) and filtered through my imperfect memory.
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The fondest wish that e'er I had
Since the day that I was weaned
Is to go back and walk again
On the rocks of Merasheen
On the hard rocks, the rocky rocks,
The rocks of Merasheen
I still recall that fond farewell
I bid him on that day
When all upon a whaling ship
He went to earn my pay
With girls in every port of call
He did go oft astray
Forsaking the one I left behind
Back in Placentia Bay
On the hard rocks, the rocky rocks
The rocks of Merasheen
On the hard rocks, the rocky rocks,
The rocks of Merasheen
Now in my old and aching age
I think of him once more
Of how he fared when I waited
For his knock upon the door.
What fate befell I do not know
But in my sleep I see him
Waiting on the rocky rocks,
The rocks of Merasheen
On the hard rocks, the rocky rocks,
The rocks of Merasheen
On the hard rocks, the dirty rocks
The rocks of Merasheen
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