Francis Duggan Poems

Most poets and songwriters write of youth and beauty and most singers of youth and beauty sing
And some will tell you age a thing of honour though I don't see age as an honourable thing
And from myself I don't have to look further for when I look in my mirror every day
I only see the wrinkles that the years brought and a balding head that now is silver gray.
...

He said to his mates real men don't write poetry or walk out with their women hand in hand
And he swallowed some more beer and then he added these cissy blokes I do not understand
They go to concerts but never to watch football or other games in which real macho men take part
You don't see real men going to the theatre or hear them talking about literature and art.
...

Rani next door is trying to seduce Shadow he calls around to see her every day
But Shadow doesn't succumb to his advances she growls aloud at him as if to say
I won't make love to you or any other, I've had enough of male cats in my time
I've been desexed and I feel I am ageing and in feline years I am beyond my prime
...

Malcolm Brodie is the Poet Laureate of Phillip Island and to the bardic culture he belong
He is immersed in the bardic tradition and he is one well versed in rhyme and song
In this the nuclear age he is a rare gem a precious link to a literary history
That flourished in a World that was different before the onset of technology.
...

Most people believe what they read in newspapers but I don't believe all I read and hear
And Governments who warn of terrorists and terror amongst the people only spreading fear
By declaring war on terror they boost their re-election chances and the fear of terror nowadays is widespread,
They justify their bombings of foreign cities where the survivors mourn for their dead
...

With the aid of walking stick he shuffles down the side street and time has left him looking stiff and gray
And truly it can be said of old Jimmy that he is one who has known a better day
Ageless father time takes care of everybody there was a time when he could run quite fast
But now he only can walk at a slow pace and all of his better days are in the past.
...

On Terry's Hill the birds sing in the sunshine and everywhere looks so fresh after rain
A bright and breezy first day of December and Summer is back in the Hills again
And Puffing Billy Belgrave's renowned steam train up through Selby towards Gembrook puffs his way
At every crossing his driver blows the whistle and history repeated every day.
...

Nicholas and Margaret Tarrant they've shared a lot in life
For sixty years together they've lived as man and wife
In this the age of one night stands by example they lead
People like them nowadays are rare and more of their type we need.
...

If I should live in this country town until I die
I will not be seen as a local here and I
Know that many of those who were born and raised here will say
He was not one of ours he came from far away.
...

He always hold high hopes for each tomorrow but each tomorrow for him seems the same
And his road to wealth and glory is all uphill yet he's convinced he'll reach the gate to fame
His dream is that he will be very wealthy and he lives in hope of better things it seems
And those who know him have a nickname for him he's known to them only as 'Broken Dreams'.
...