A Spring Night Near Cullen Poem by Francis Duggan

The moon shines on the Araglen clear waters
And the trout for fly jump in the river pool
And in the gentle breeze new leaves are stirring
And the night air one might say a little cool.

The hunting barn owl flies above the meadow
In the dim light he almost appears white
His hungry chicks back in the nest are waiting
He must appease their hefty appetite.

On whirring wings above the field of rushes
The love smitten male snipe gives his mating call
With his wings and tail he makes sounds like goat bleating
A sound I've known since I was knee high tall.

The vixen through the rank rushes is stealing
Out stalking rabbit, pheasant, rat and hare
Her hungry cubs back in the den are waiting
And every kill she makes with them she share.

I see the lights of nearby Cullen Village
And shy night creatures hunt and run and fly
And Spring is in full bloom in old Duhallow
And stars are flickering in the moonlit sky.