R C Millar   [ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ]  [Links]

[ Poem Index ] [ 9 months ] [ A Poem for Jamie ] [ A Modern Army ] [ A Toast to the Ladies ] [ A Tribute to Ballymena ] [ A Wedding Blessing ] [ Goodbye Dad ] [ Jamie's Poem ] [ My Little Girl ] [ My Mother Elsie ] [ Task Force Falklands ]

A Tribute to BALLYMENA,
The City of Seven Towers

Lovely City of Seven Towers

T’was there I spent my youthful hours;

I have kind friends still living there,

Its joys and sorrows they do share.

Close to those Towers runs the river Braid,

And a little streamlet called tje Lade,

Tjos streamlet from the dam does flow,

And right to Morton’s mill does go.

The dam is in the People’s Park.

Where many times I watched the lark,

As she  rose high up in the air,

And sang her song of praises there.

I well remember whe a boy,

With other lads I found much joy,

When mothers us to school had sent,

About Todd’s Pump the day we spent.

Through the fields we chased each other,

Until we tired one another,

Over the Lade, across the Burn,

T’was often night when we’d return,

I think I hear my mother say,

You have not been at school today,

No mother dear, for I was late,

And yesterday I broke a slate,

My teacher said I’d have to pay,

So I was not at school today,

If you forgive I’ll do waht’s right,

And try to please with all my might,

Mother is gone with Christ to dwell,

The Saviour met her at the well,

The Water of Life to her He gave,

Whoever will, may drink and live

He’s found of them that sought Him not,

For God’s salvation cannot be bought,

All that are save, who go to Heaven,

The Father to the Son has given,

In the People’s Park there is a spot,

The Cottage Hospital, forget it not.

The Priest and Levite they pass by,

The Good Samaritans ever nigh.

For Jesus Christ is still the same,

It was for sinners Jesus came,

His love is stronger than a brother’s

We’re taught of Him to love each other

If we turn our face t’ward the curse,

Far worse the last state than the first,

Bur seven times a man may fall,

Yet be victorious after all,

With Nurse Barkley and Matron M’Clure,

The Gospel found an open door,

Christie Montgomery there us did meet,

And the Old Story did repeat.

There we gathered around the fire,

Until `twas time for to retire,

Then Nurse Barkley would have us sing,

The Crowning Day as closing hymn.

What changes since have taken place,

No more we’ll see each other’s face,

Until the Lord comes to the air,

We’ll be caught up and glory share.

Now I must close for want of light,

I am sixty years the May eve night,

And this was passing through my mind,

E’er since my age was fifty-nine.

Let us follow on the Lord to know,

And He our enemies will o’er throw,

And we with Him will happy be,

With Him for all eternity.

April 30, 1919                                                              Robert Rock, 23 Eton St