The Saddest Thing Poem by Francis Duggan

Whatever the future holds for us we all have a past history
And the saddest thing for some ageing migrants is the old friends they will never more see
The old friends back in the home Country some of them with the departed lay
The years have left them looking older they have known a far better day,
They will never more see their home Country though their distinctive accents they retain
That part of the homeland they have not lost and till death with them it will remain
They migrated for many reasons in search of adventure elsewhere
But father time never waits for anybody and leaves all looking the worst for wear,
The lust of the wander was in them they left their Hometowns far away
They went off for to try their luck elsewhere and elsewhere they've grown old and gray
They raised their children in their adopted Country their children into adults have grown
And are now in their late twenties and early thirties with schoolgoing children of their own
And whatever the future holds for us we all have a past history
And the saddest thing for some ageing migrants is the old friends they'll never more see.