COD FISH'S LAMENT

I am the reason why they came here
To live on this bleak rock
And hearty folks they were
That to every Cove did flock

Nothing was wasted from me
And for all a use was found
Tongue, cheek, gill, head, fin
Liver, heart, pea and sound

I used to be the manna
I used to be the host
And we were so interdependent
All along the coast

Back then I was so important
And, oh for these days I wish
When they called me not by name
But I was known as "Fish"

But all was in a balance
For my foe, the seal, was also sought
And that, my friend, is why each year
I was caught and caught and caught

Most years I was plenty
But some years I was few
But I always gave up enough of me
So the people they got through

The people made a living
They split and dried and sold
That's the way it always was
Or so my father told