Francis Duggan Poems

Too old or too young or too fat or too thin
By physical appearance it is not easy to win
Too ugly and lanky and even too tall
Or of poor physical shape as well as too small
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Some Governments order the execution of drug runners after they have spent many years in jail
This is their idea of morality through justice but by their actions their ideas they do fail
Drug runners may not be good people but the death penalty for them or anyone unjustified
To have the death penalty in place in their constitution to any government should not be a sense of pride
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In the schools in Ireland in the nineteen fifties by law corporal punishment was in place
And corporal punishment from a teacher entailed more than a slight slap on the face
Several strokes of a stick on the open hand did leave welts that caused pain
And though the physical and mental scars have long healed the bad memories remain
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Due to destruction of Natural Habitat and Climate Change
Many species of birds and animals becoming rare in their natural range
In a World of so much pollution brought about by human greed
Of more environmentally conscious people we are badly in need
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Of any life achievements i do not have stories for to tell
I am just a person who pens doggerel
The years have left me looking old, bald and gray
And time on my life keeps on ticking away
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In her early twenties and in her life's bloom
Her travels have brought her far south of Macroom
Her shoulder length wavy hair as dark as the wing of a crow
The young beauty from the Town where Sullane waters flow
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Since he is one who will never be cowed
Matt Murphy in Millstreet will never be of the in crowd
Of the needless removal of trees from the Town Park of his feelings he left none in doubt
He was the brave fellow who dared to speak out
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For to meet them you do not have to travel far
And if you live in town you need not take your car
Just a five minute walk to the local public bar
To meet those who will tell you of how marvelous they are
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Though the past just a memory of the forever gone
Life all around me as usual goes on
Yet in my flights of fancy i often times does hear and see
In Spring a male chaffinch singing on a leafy birch tree
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Though there today to many i would be a stranger for few there now on sight would recognize me
I will always be a fellow from Millstreet this is all that i ever can be
When people ask me where i hail from i say Claraghatlea near the Town of Millstreet
A twenty five minute walk through the old fields to the Lyre where the rivers do meet
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