March 2015
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I'm a Newfoundlander now living in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I write poems and songs, paint and carve stone to describe my world. I am trained in electronics, auto painting, and 3D Animation. You can see some of my artwork here: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/craig-bursey.html
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A Gunshot Away
Grandfather played the tin whistle
with Paddy on his knee
for his grandson he played
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
On Paddy’s tenth birthday
Grandfather gave him his own to play
Paddy took to it like a duck to water
Soon learned from his grandfather
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
Every school function when Paddy was there
sweet songs filled the evening air
Paddy played loud and
Paddy played strong
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
Paddy joined the army on his birthday
eighteen years and shipped away
He took his tin whistle and he played
marching songs
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
The Sergeant said one day
you could hear Paddy’s tin whistle
a gunshot away
When we go to the front lines
you must not play
Paddy played his tin whistle
on leave to entertain troops
new found friends and
new found love
he played
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
His company took a hill one day
in the middle of a fight
was surrounded at the base
late into the night
Paddy heard the Major say
Get your tin whistle
I need you to play
The radio is gone and
a planned air strike for this hill is on
Paddy get your tin whistle and play
and a hundred and fifty men will pray
they hear it a gunshot away
Paddy got his tin whistle and
climbed the tallest tree
He wanted the sound to carry
it was not a good place to be
He played all night with all his might
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
When the air strike time had come and gone
a soldier was sent to get him down
but a sniper had found him first
So came a flag-draped end to the man
and as he was lowered into his land
you could hear
a hundred and fifty tin whistles play
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
Love made a son far away and
he was given his father’s name
His grandfather brought him home and
arranged for his stay
gave his grandson a tin whistle
on his tenth birthday
Paddy took to it like a duck to water
He learned to play songs of his great-grandfather
Paddy played loud and
Paddy played strong
songs of Ireland
songs that will live on
©2015 Craig Bursey