Oh Ancient Hill Of Clara Poem by Francis Duggan

Oh ancient hill of Clara I've not seen you for sometime
And I am getting on in life and years beyond my prime
Long years ago in July from your green het I picked the dark ripe berry
And viewed the countryside for miles around that stretches far into Kerry.

Oh ancient hill of Clara in sunny Spring and Summer weather
The skylark fly up from his nest cloaked in a tuft of heather
To carol in the clear blue sky his notes I still remember
In the dying flame of my memory remains a flickering ember

Of you an ancient Boggeragh hill the mountain of my childhood
above Claramore and Clarabeg where songbirds sing in hedge and wildwood
And in Winter in your hat of snow you overlook Duhallow
But in cold December I left you since I had dreams to follow

Oh ancient hill of Clara you are still in all of your glory
And of you there has been many a poem and of you there has been many a story
And your beauty hangs on gallery walls through artistic creation
To poets and artists down the years you've been an inspiration.

Oh ancient hill of Clara I've not seen you I remember
Since you wore your hat of Winter snow on a cold morning in December
And that was many years ago and the flame of memory flicker
And as I am getting on in years the time seems to go quicker.