Francis Duggan Poems

He has travelled in the World for three decades or more
From New Zealand's South Island to the Artic shore
He has been all through Asia and lived and worked in Japan
A true World citizen a well travelled man.
...

The tired and aged horse in the paddock his better days they are long gone
Though he is enjoying his old age and for as long as he can he'll live on
In his prime he was used for rounding up cattle he could run as fast as a hare
But now his fastest is a slow trot the poor old bay seems the worst for wear.
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He doesn't feel his is a superior race
Nor is he not your average patriot though he has a sense of place
He never has travelled far from his Hometown
And he has never yearned for wealth and renown.
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You look at him the one we chose to lead
He does appear so ordinary indeed
Are we so blind that through him we cannot see
If he's so average how stupid are we?
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The good or the evil the devout or the brave
Have never returned from the dark of the grave
For to tell us of another World out there
But why pay heed to me if you believe in prayer,
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Though overall you look quite hairy as you sit in your cage in the zoo
And watch me with your arms folded I cannot say I envy you
For you look an intelligent fellow though you lead a lonely captive life
Far south of the Jungles of Asia and without a family or a wife.
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To only one's self can one only be true
And credit is called for where credit is due
And for a hard day's work there should be a good pay
But all in life is not fair 'twould be fair to say,
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Of war heroes so much is written and said
But for every living war hero there are a thousand war dead
And dead heroes and dead villians they all are the same
They will not hear you speak when you mention them by name.
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The more I learn of Nature the less of her I know I know
The little bird that all day search for insects in the hedgerow
Lives quite a complex lifestyle though we may not think so
The more I learn of Nature the more my wonder of her grow.
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Before we think of changing the World 'tis ourselves we must change
To say something like that may seem a bit strange
To old mistrusts and half truths 'tis not hard to cling
Compassion for others it is such a great thing.
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