Jeremiah Joseph Callanan Poem by Francis Duggan

He was the great poet who sung of Gougane Barra
And the rill from the hills that flowed straight and narrow
To grow to river Lee as it flow to the ocean
His musical verse is sheer poetry in motion.

For health reasons his ties with his Homeland he was forced to sever
And in Portugal his bones at rest for forever
He was a great poet and a marvellous translator
And few were his equal if any were greater.

A hedge School teacher he taught in Cork County as far as Duhallow
But he was one who had other dreams for to follow
The wanderlust in him for distant shores he did yearn
And he left his Homeland never more to return

Such memorable poems by his genius created
The beauty of Nature by him celebrated
J J Callanan died young and poor but he left things of beauty
And to write marvellous poetry perhaps his life's duty.

He taught Hedge school in Avondhu, Muskerry and Duhallow
But he was a restless young man and he had dreams to follow
He was a gentle sort of a bloke and generous and kind hearted
And his genius had not reached full bloom when from life he departed.