Francis Duggan Poems

A long way from here to Duhallow from Millstreet, Kanturk and Banteer
And a long way from Cullen and Kiskeam and Newmarket is distant from here,
Knocknagree on the Cork-Kerry border on the high roadway up from Rathmore
And Ballydaly, Dromtarriffe and Rathcoole are far north of this far southern shore,
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When Sonny Liston was World heavyweight Boxing Champion the
World was a much different place
Though before he won the title from Floyd Patterson the first man had been to outer space
I recall photos of him after he lost his title to Muhammad Ali the look of disappointment in his face
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That I condemn cruelty to animals may seem hypocritical since I am one who often eat meat
And many animals slaughtered for human consumption those responsible for them mistreat
And since I am not a vegetarian I am not in a position to say
That I am not responsible for cruelty to animals when I am in an indirect way.
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He thought of his mountain of worries his impending court case with his ex wife
For the right to access to his children for him nothing easy in life
No hope of reconciliation with her with the man she loves she now live
His only crime was for to love her and he gave her all he could give.
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The tiny brown wren I remember is one who has a big bird song
And once heard next time you hear him you will not get him wrong
He and his wife together they raise a big family
Up to ten tiny children with them I often times happened to see.
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When she looks in her mirror her real self she can't see
She says I look fat and overweight though she doesn't seem that way to me
But our eyes can only tell us what our eyes want us to believe
And through her eyes this woman her own self she deceive.
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A bright and sunny Summer's morning and clear and blue the sky
And white, brown and spotted butterflies around the garden fly
And the nearby hills of Archies Creek now wear their Summer brown
All in the prime of Summer in old Wonthaggi Town.
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By the way you talk of your hero one would swear out of him the sun shine
Don''t try to convince me of his worth your hero will never be mine
To me your hero is responsible of crimes against humanity
Because of him thousands have died and thousands more maimed and injured why do you talk of him to me.
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You tell me of your Australian history your ancestors were British and Irish pioneers
But your history in this Land is not an old history just two centuries and twenty years
And in time that may seem quite a long span though the combined life spans of three people nothing more
Your ancestors hardly were Aussies they came here from a distant shore.
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Don''t surrender your power to others your personal power is your own
Some people look up to their gurus but some gurus they have been known
For to take advantage of their admirers though gurus quite good overall
Some of them do become corrupted and from grace they have been known to fall.
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