Only A Sod

It’s only a sod, but ’twill break me ould heart Nigh hardened wid toilin’ and carin’, And make the ould wounds in it tingle and smart. It’s only a sod, but it’s parcel and part Of strugglin’, sufferin’ Erin. It’s only a sod, but it rakes the ould pain The ould love in me heart that still lingers, That Time has been soothing and docth’ring in vain; And now he must soothe it and heal it again Wid his kindly and gentle ould fingers. It’s only a sod, but I see a big ship Through the gallopin’ waters come tearin’, And a lass that looks back on the horizon dip, Wid eyes full of tears and a thrimblin’ lip, On the last that she saw of ould Erin. It’s only a sod, but wid care it will keep Till me brooms and me brushes are silint Put it into me arms ere they bury me deep, And tell them old Biddy the slavey does sleep ’Neath a sod from the bogs of ould Irlint.