I Only Have Memories Of Christmas Poem by Francis Duggan

I only have memories of Christmas of the Christmases I used to know
When Clara by the Town of Millstreet wore his hat of December snow
And the bare fields and bare woods were echoing to the harsh caws of the silver back crow
And down from the Boggeragh Ranges the cold winds of December blow
But we enjoyed our Christmas dinner the turkey and stuffing was tender to eat
To be followed by cake and plum pudding we enjoyed our Christmas Day treat
On Christmas Day Mum was quite busy with so many mouths for to feed
With dad she is sleeping forever the flowers on their grave gone to seed
On Christmas Day Night around the warm fireplace that from us did keep out the cold
Of the days when the Tans were in Ireland the old men some great stories told
Of their brave fight to get the Brits out of Ireland a freedom paid for in bloodshed
It was with respect and reverence that they spoke of Ireland's young war dead
My Christmas nowadays is quite different than the Christmas that I used to know
But the past it is in the past forever and that was a long time ago.