The Master’s Voice

For Kevin Owens on his 86th Birthday, Sunday 10th May 2020

With reverence he gazes down the aisle While waiting for the organist to play,

His wife of sixty years knows well his style; The music starts, he sings “Queen of the May.”

No bell rings out for Sunday mass this year In Charleville, New York City or Rome, A virus has the world living in fear

The faithful are advised to pray at home.

But still he sings and as his words stream out Around his town and towns both far and near, There rises hope instead of fear and doubt, Up in heaven Mary his words will hear.

Today is his birthday, aged eighty-six

The grand old sage of town keeps rolling on, How good it is beneath the crucifix

He sings once more for her when called upon.

Oh Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today Queen of the angels, Queen of the May,

Oh Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today Queen of the angels, Queen of the May.

Up in Croke Park in bygone days he stood With the Artane Boys Band at centrefield, He sang our county songs in brotherhood With Gaelic men, their feelings were revealed.

How pleasing is his humour, charm and wit The love of place that runs deep in his soul, The wayward shot to the eighteenth he hit But struck a bird and landed in the hole!

The mass is over and the Canon speaks He reads a letter by the Bishop’s hand, It isn’t now the limelight that he seeks But he is honoured for a lifetime grand.

But most of all he is thanked for his voice The Master’s Voice so constant through the years, For his talent let us, his friends rejoice

He sings for us through happiness and tears.