In Duhallow Now Poem by Francis Duggan

The redwings soon will fly back to the Northlands when their home breeding woods are clear of snow
Far distant from the old fields of Duhallow where the Blackwater towards the ocean flow
For migratory birds remain true to their nature they always return home to breed in Spring
In their home wood they nest and raise their offsprings and in their home wood their finest songs they sing.

And towards Duhallow from their southern wintering quarters the swallows high above the ocean fly
For to build their mud nests on the old shed rafters their first brood will have hatched out by July
And above the fields in the cool northern Summer they chase the flying insects every day
It is quite natural in the Natural World that the smaller predator chase tiny prey.

It is so warm in this Land of the Southern ocean the Summer now is in her glorious prime
Brown butterflies flit through the sunlit Parkland they make the most of their brief lifetime
The female has but a few days for to lay eggs the urge it is upon her for to mate
She will be long dead before her next generation as her kind are very slow for to pupate.

Far north of here in very old Duhallow the Spring is nearing with each passing day
Even though in the cold air of the dawning the frosted fields are still looking very gray
And the migrant redwings will soon be departing for their northern woods in the early Spring
And far north of their southern wintering quarters they will build their nests and the males will chirp and sing