Since Poem by Francis Duggan

Since Robert Service penned his poems of the Land of ice and snow
His Sam Mgee and Dan Mgrew many have come to know
And though the master wordsmith to the reaper has long gone
In memory his characters are fresh and living on.

Since Robert Burns penned 'Afton Waters' more than two centuries have gone
But the poems and songs of the great one are remembered and live on
In death he is a legend far from his own Countryside
And his new year anthem 'Auld Lang Syne' on New Year's eve sung Worldwide.

Since John Masefield penned 'Saltwater ballads' which put him on the road to renown
And made him a poetic legend far from Ledbury his Hometown
Poetry has undergone great changes and it would be fair to say
That the great poet would have struggled for recognition had he been around today.

Since the great James Clarence Mangan died in Dublin one hundred and fifty seven years ago
'Tis a much more prosperous Ireland from the Ireland he did know
He was such a marvellous wordsmith yet he lived and died in poverty
And only a life of hardship for a prince of poetry.

Since the peasant poet of Helpston the legendary one John Clare
Made so many Nature lovers through his poetry of Nature's wonders more aware
The World has undergone great changes yet the Seasons come and go
And the stream from the mountains to the river ever flow.