Francis Duggan Poems

Some people have this thing about all migrants what brought them to this Land in the first place
Though they themselves too descended from migrants their forebearers were of a migrant race
Their forebearers dispossessed the Native People their history they do not know or understand
They don't seem to realize that they have strong ties to another race and to another Land.
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As near as you'll find to an Earthly Utopia is Sandy Point the Village by the sea
Where even in the very depths of Winter the magpie flutes upon a coastal tree
And 12 to 20 degrees the temperature from May to September and Spring and Summer warmer by at least ten degrees
And the warm day grow cooler in the evening and birds pipe in the freshening sea breeze.
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He fell eight months short of celebrating his one hundredth birthday Max Schmeling the German boxing great
It was his dream to celebrate a century of living but the reaper for the old champ refused to wait
More than a boxing champion he was a true humanitarian and as the great man himself had been known to say
I'd rather be remembered as a decent human being than as a World Champion any day.
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How come George Sims and George Crabbe are not more famous there is a naturalness about their rhyme
They are amongst the literary forgotten they were not even famous in their time
And could it be they wrote for the poor only and of the poor
not many wish to read
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If this is what freedom is about who would wish to be free
When only of war dead we read and hear about and pictures of death we see
Mothers grieving for their dead children in Iraq their heartbreak with them will stay
Until the Reaper claim them though for them 'twill be a happy day.
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If I should die tomorrow I've had a happy life
Never had a major accident and never known heartbreak
Never known what it's like to be really hungry and lady luck's been kind to me
And every morning after six as a free man I awake
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When your Country's sport stars take the field you wave the National flag
And of your Country's greatness you never cease to brag
And the praises of your Nation's heroes you never fail to sing
Though too much patriotism can be a dangerous thing.
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His years he is physically showing he walks with the aid of a walking cane
But otherwise he's very lucid and there's nothing wrong with his brain
He is up to date with the news headlines and he is well versed on current affairs
And he is one to count his blessings he says than me others have far more cares.
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A poet lived in this Town a century ago
Not one of the major literary figures say those who feel they know
About poets and poetry they believe they are never wrong
About verse and true poetry and doggerel and song.
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She has about her such a happy way
I hear her hearty laughter every day
And with a cheery hello me she greet
The woman in the house across the street.
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