Francis Duggan Poems

On the sand dunes at Powlett river in the dead of the night
Dark shadows are moving in the faint moonlight
The Ghosts of the Bunurong dance their Corroborees
In a circle they jig to the music of the breeze.
...

Eddy and Delia Murphy still breeding and racing greyhounds their dogs Ballydaly's best
And their speedsters not found wanting when they are put to the test
Still winning races at the Cork track and as greyhound handlers their reputations grow
Their Ballydaly dogs have been winning open and graded races
...

Old Garry doesn't seem to mind the tag of the Poetaster the
Local Laureate of Doggerel
And he doesn't give credence to the hereafter condemned forever to the Poetasters Hell
For he will tell you there is nothing out there that there isn''t any life beyond the grave
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He brought to his friend a bouquet of roses on St Valentine's Day
Which did not please the neighbours in whispers they did say
That a man should give another man a gift of flowers is against all Natural law
Such narrow minded people their own conclusions draw
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On a warm evening on the second day of July
As I walked through the high grass upwards a bird did fly
A bantam sized mottled brown bird with low and short quick flight
Beyond the hedge she disappeared from sight.
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If I did not know what age she is I'd say it cannot be true
For she looks younger than she is I'd say at tops fifty two
But Stella has turned sixty today is her birthday
So happy birthday Stella so young you seem to stay.
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As success goes I am not seen as successful but what others think of me I do not care
For I know too much about life in the bigger World out there
I've worked with people of all Nations with the good and not so good
And I never do judge others by their Land of Motherhood.
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have you ever felt so depressed that you wish your life would end
Since of late your wife has left you and gone to live with your ex best friend
Never thought that this could happen to you and you feel betrayed and let down
And you feel the saddest of the sad souls of your side of the Town.
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On June the eight in the year 03 the champion blue brindled greyhound from Millstreet Town
Mountleader Rolf owned by Daniel and Geraldine O Mahony raced his way into renown
By winning the St Ledger Classic for his proud owners a great night
The son of Smooth Rumble and Mountleader Diva had his backers cheering loudly in delight.
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Each time I listen to the news on radio I hear of more deaths in Iraq
And the occupying forces constantly under attack
From those the occupiers see as insurgents though others see it differently
An insurgent to one is a freedom fighter to another that's how 'twould seem to be.
...