Francis Duggan Poems

Flowing through Duhallow on towards Mallow Town
Old River Blackwater in flood waters of brown
Swollen by streams and rivers from the higher ground
The countryside flooded for kilometers around
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For their love of home them I can only admire
To see other lands they do feel no desire
Beyond their homeplace or hometown no wish for to live elsewhere
Or even travel for awhile in the big World out there
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On the journey of life until the day we does die
There is more to the living of life than for the me, myself and I
Though sad for to say it is nothing new
That those who live for the self are not of the few
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Jean Hickey than me is a few years older I knew her long before she met and married Ted O Shea
And she went to live in Finnanefield in Kilcorney from Inchaleigh in Millstreet five or six miles away
I have not seen her for years but her I will remember until the reaper gives the call to me
Good people like her one does not wish to forget and she did not fade from my memory.
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He died in battle in World War 1 in Belloy En Santerre thousands of miles away
From his home city of New York in the U S of A
Like a true soldier under fire back in nineteen sixteen
In his twenty eight year and perhaps his better days he had not seen.
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In my life I don't have much to celebrate
And I have been struggling for to smile of late
In life as we know there's many a pitfall
But when compared to many my worries are small
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In the fields of Claraghatlea North far north and far away
The migrant redwings chirping in the dawning cold and gray
And the salmon swim upstream to spawn as yesterday's flood goes down
In the river known as Finnow within sight of Millstreet Town
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You may be a very wealthy person and for your generosity know of renown
And with your marvellous gift of money help the poor souls of the town
Do not crave for admiration never wish for glory's crown
Yet whilst many do applaud you there is one to put you down.
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We look at life one might say quite differently
And on very few subjects we seem to agree
The opinions you express are quite different to mine
What you think is your business and that suits me fine
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Around the flower beds the white butterflies play
How can one feel grumpy on a day like today
A high of a beautiful 25 degrees
And the birds chirp and whistle on the bushes and trees
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