For As Long As I Can Poem by Francis Duggan

For most the writing of verse is a hungry belly game
And far easier journeys to wealth and to fame
Than penning stuff you cannot give away never mind sell
And ignored by the literary critics as mere doggerel.

'Tis the literary critics who decide if you are a writer of note
If you have the right for to be called a poet
And though self praise is no praise some are known to say
Many introduce themselves as poets anyway.

Though many years now beyond my writing prime
I am one addicted to penning of rhyme
One might say i have written quite a lot of stuff
But sad to say for me not quite good enough

To be seen as a poet in the big World out there
Where poetasters are many and poets are so rare
And though most cannot be winners happens to be true
The dreams that you have are the dreams you pursue.

And though many may see it as a waste of time
To be addicted to penning of doggerel cannot be seen as a crime
And though many young people look on me as an old man
I will keep penning verse for as long as i can.