Francis Duggan Poems

I may never be one with important things for to say
And with words i am not one who does have a way
Just an ordinary bloke on the wrong side of time
What i have to say i do say it in rhyme
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A cool Autumn breeze above the flat paddocks do blow
In the coastal countryside where the Bass waters do flow
In ancient South Gippsland to the Pacific shore
Where it has flowed forever and will forever more
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The Burke brothers Tommy and Brendan they may have known a better day
They played Gaelic Football for Millstreet before time on them had a say
In the green and gold of the Finnowsiders some marvelous games they did play
Good memories last a whole lifetime and only in death fade away
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A long way south of Claraghatlea and Millstreet my Hometown
I have learned the road of life is a hard old road of many an uphill and down
And all i have left are the memories of what has been and gone
And like everyone else with the living of life i have to carry on
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The article by Michael Cashman on Michael Desmond a young man from Claramore on the Millstreet website made for an interesting read
Of a brave one who died fighting in the war supposed to end all wars that to other wars only did lead
In the Spring of nineteen fifteen on a British warship he sailed out of Hibernia's shore
Never more for to return to his family home in view of Clara in Claramore
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The countryside looks green around Koroit Town
A few weeks ago the paddocks were dry and brown
Though the creeks down to a trickle and bone dry every drain
And Koroit and surrounds could do with a lot more rain
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In Nepal in an act of Nature more than five thousand people have died
And thousands are injured and great buildings and many homes destroyed
An earthquake that caused an avalanche of snow on Mt Everest where many climbers their lives lost
Every outburst of anger from Nature to humanity comes at a huge cost
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In Indonesia possession of narcotics can be a punishable by death crime
or else imprisonment for a lifetime
For drug trafficking in Indonesia the price can be huge for to pay
That human life can be taken so cheaply does seem sad to say
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Old Ted he does know all about life for he has been there and done that
He has shorn sheep in North Queensland and laid water pipes in Ararat
He was also in demand as a horse breaker one of the best of the outback
He tamed many a bucking wild brumby and in courage he did not lack
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Everyone's life to them is important even the poorest person of the town
To her or him their life of no less of value than the life of one of great wealth and renown
The greatest scientists and doctors life to a dead body cannot restore
The longest lived life in time is not a very long span and death it is forever more
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