My Homeland

by Margaret (Ennis) Brown

My home is on an island in Little Merasheen
My father was a fisherman as proud as he could be
He worked from dawn till sunset in his little boat so keen
Catching fish and lobster, and capelin in the seine.

There were days when there was plenty of food to keep us fed
There were times when we had to scrounge around before we went to bed
But somehow we managed as the days were long and hard
To keep a smile upon our face and sorrow from our heart.

In the daytime there was sunshine for us to see our way
At night there was only darkness and we had to feel our way
Good times there were many at my father’s house
We drank, sang and danced all night until the lights went out.

The men went home tired but happy to get ready for the day
In hopes to catch lots of fish to ease them on their way
But in their hearts they knew you take the bad with the good
And pray for moderate weather from the good Lord up above.

There were storms and there were plenty that tore up all the nets
They would mend and fix them up again and back again they’d set.
For they were so determined because they had no fear
To catch the fish intended and beat those storms all year.

They would go home tired and hungry after all day on the sea
With nothing in their little boats to show for their misery
They put a smile upon their face not to let that stop them yet
In hopes that tomorrow would bring a bigger and better catch.

I can still remember the church upon the hill
Where the men would gather their yarns and tales to tell.
For Sunday was a day of prayer and rest for all the men
For the Lord was surely watching over all the fishermen.

They would thank the Lord in silence for all the good things that they had
For the children of the future and all the days ahead
For those days must be coming for the Lord knows only that
So keep a smile upon your face and we’ll beat those hard times yet!