Francis Duggan Poems

In the darkness of the morning just before the dawn of day
I hear the magpies singing on the gums across the way
From mid July and onwards they build their nests and sing
And when the magpies are stick gathering you know 'twill soon be Spring.
...

A diabetic in her early sixties and she is one you could not help but admire
She raised nine children five of them adopted and her story is a story to inspire
And she is what you'd call an unsung heroine for her there's
never been an easy day
...

The fairest one in Berwick when she was in her prime
But that was fifteen years ago and that's going back in time
She may be only forty but she has put on weight
And the one who once had many suitors goes un-noticed of late.
...

In Dan Connell's shop we bought ice creams and lollies
And lemonade and buns and chocolate treats
And black jacks and jobstoppers for a penny
A shilling then would buy you bags of sweets.
...

When you and I must part forever more
Will those who survive us speak of us and say
They have gone to where none have returned from before
And their souls far distant from where now they lay.
...

The hobby golfer goes on a golfing week end and with his mates the eighteen holes he play
And the football fan he goes to watch his team play and if they win it helps to make his day
And the horse lover rides upon her pony along the bush track
fringed by rough grass overgrown
...

'Methought' the lucky bloke has found himself a cutie
With shoulder length blond hair she really looked a beauty
They chatted as they sipped their cappucino
Miss georgeous and her dark haired Valentino.
...

November in Duhallow now and it's cold enough to snow
And across old Caherbarnagh's face the chilly north winds blow
And rain clouds in the wintery sky and the rain is pouring down
And the Finnow river flow bank high through fields near Millstreet Town.
...

House sparrows, yellow hammers and chaffinches
I saw them north of Napier yesterday
Europe man brought their ancestors to New Zealand
Long years ago from places far away.
...

She's been through a messy divorce case and single now she will remain
And she feels she's had it with marriage and she'll never marry again
She tried her best to save her marriage at least she gave it her best try
And from her past mistakes she has learnt like they say 'once bitten twice shy'.
...