Joyful Banner Blazing

In streets where no one’s path is smooth

Polish rare as Sunday shoes

Lined all along the road are we

One big heart on one big sleeve

And in the wake of the hearse

Our voices float in verse

Every buoyant phrase and melody

Cries, Sister you will ever be

Comin’ round the mountain

Over the rainbow

A joyful banner blazing

You are young

You are precious

You are loved

A young man’s thanks for all you did

So lads like him could just be kids

A safe place he could hang about

Drop the tough act, lose the lout

Single mom, determined gaze

Remembers how she freely played

And took to heart the stories, songs

That whisper still “girl, you are strong”

You’ll be

Comin’ round the mountain

Over the rainbow

A joyful banner blazing

You are young

You are precious

You are loved

Your smiling eyes cut through it all

To our better selves did call

Confident that we were there

Coaxing us to dream, to dare

Challenging the deal in ***

Raising money in the pubs

Pulling heartstrings, squeezing funds

Our shameless, selfless, flying nun

Comin’ round the mountain

Over the rainbow

A joyful banner blazing

You are young

You are precious

You are loved

And we who line this road today

You nurtured, nudged along our way

Taught us skills to help us cope

Through the darkness into hope

You’re in the bustle of our streets

In the rain upon our cheeks

Your words a mantra we will keep

And pass to every child we meet