River Susan McKeown Bathe me in the waters of the Lagan of the Boyne Of the Liffey of the Slaney, of the Barrow, Nore and Suir Of the Blackwater, the Bann, the Lee, the Shannon, Foyle and Erne Bathe me in the waters O bless the water that flows from the fields Into the sea that surrounds our little island of green Hope is a river that flows from these stone walls Into an ocean we have never seen Hope is a dress that my mother once wore A fiddle tune I heard that has no words Hope is the one thing we have never lost Though we are tired from the old war Same anger in our hearts, same desolation and loss Why are we divided Bind us in friendship so rage will never rise again In fair Eire between friends