Francis Duggan Poems

From Townlands, Towns and Villages they left they had their dreams to follow
And some live near and some live far from their old homes in Duhallow
Some never even did return and old ties they did sever
Never to see their old homes again they rest elsewhere forever,
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I saw a white backed magpie fly into a sapling tree nearby
And as quick as one can say quick he snatched a silver eye
He brought the life of his fellow tiny bird to a speedy end
In Nature few bigger creatures to those smaller are a friend.
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You make someone a promise the promise you should keep
For your word is your honour and your honour should not come cheap
Yet some people to break their word seem to think that's okay
People who don't have honour it would be true to say.
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Our only certainty in life is one day we must die
And immortality for anyone whilst as such not a lie
When people speak in such a way they mean one name will live on
Long after many others are forgotten and gone
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The future generations will hear the lowing of a cow
And the song of the magpie a century from now
And the creek from the brown hill will journey on down
Through dry stony places and paddocks of brown.
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Have you ever for one moment wished that you were never born
Into a World where you have felt the wrath of others scorn
You do not follow the flock leader and for that they make you pay
By dismissing your opinions in a disrespectful way.
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Red browed finches or red browed firetails two names they are known by
They like to live near cover where from bush to tree they fly
The reason they live near cover the well informed say
Is that they need places to hide in from bigger birds of prey.
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It is not what i think of others or it is not what they think of me
For we are after all individuals and on all things we cannot agree
I will not try for to change your opinions though your opinions are different to mine
And you surely own your own feelings and that's okay that suits me fine.
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So many in the World today had to go without dinner
And in life so many have to lose for one to be a winner
But if you can keep on keeping on when others seem to doubt you
Despite your poverty the World would be worse off without you,
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We live our lives from day to day not knowing about tomorrow
Or what the future holds for us in laughter or in sorrow
And every day we live to see for us a new beginning
The sadness that we feel in losing increase our joy in winning,
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