Good Health Next To Life

Due to this pandemic of  COVID-19 which to Worldwide fear does give rise
How important their health is many have come to realize
Though the praises of money many may sing
To human beings good health next to life the most important thing
Life is the greatest gift anyone does possess
Far greater than any form of material success
And for to maintain  life in the body one does need good health
These two far more important to anyone than material wealth
The fact is no greater gift than life and fact never lie
Some infected by COVID-19 are doomed for to die
I would much prefer to be poor than materially wealthy and on a hospital bed lay
With COVID-19 on my life's final day
Due to COVID-19 many taken on their final drive
It is such a good feeling to be healthy and alive.

Nature Is A Great Teacher

So much about Nature there is for to know
And our wonderment of her only seems to grow
Of her we do learn something new every day
She is a wonderful teacher of her one can say
There is not one about Nature who knows everything
But to those who do love her such joy she does bring
With the help of her sibling Mother Earth she creates a beautiful flower
She is the World's unsung number one super power
Her secrets are many and her wonders are not few
And this is not saying anything that is new
And the more we learn of her the more we realize
That of her we know little this is not a surprise
The fact is Nature is a great teacher and fact never lie
And we will be learning from her until the day we do die.

New Holland Honeyeaters For Them

Small birds one does see often though not every day
Who defend their territory in an aggressive way
To their patch they never welcome other nectar eaters as a friend
With aggression their flowering trees they do defend

Mostly dark brown and grey with wing patches of gold
They are quite attractive birds for to behold
In a straggly cup nest of bark on fork of low branch of prickly bush or tree
The female lay pale pink spotted spotted eggs of two or three

Cautious but not shy of humans to most other birds they almost seem tame
New holland honeyeaters for them is their common name
Within their range in small flocks in numbers they abound
With their crackling calls they warn other birds if predators are around

On my walks they are birds that i often do see
With their long thin bills probing for nectar on every flowering bush and tree
Quite aggressive little honeyeaters with ways of their own
Within their range to lovers of Nature they are quite well known.

A Leading Egotistical Narcissist

On the material ladder of success one who has climbed far
Proud of his grand two storey home and his expensive new car
Proud of his children and his beautiful wife
And so proud he has done so materially well in life
He feels he has a good right for to boast
And to himself he often does drink a toast
His trappings of wealth on public display
People like he is are not rare today
A leading egotistical narcissist of the town
He does yearn for far more than local renown
He hopes to be one who is known Worldwide
His obsession with self does have it's source in pride
To be famous Worldwide in life his desire
And of boasting of self he never does tire.

That Time Does Not Wait

That time does not wait only true for to say
For all of us there is this last night and day
And the words in the very old song does not lie
That the longer you live the sooner you will die
The seconds and minutes keep ticking on fast
So live every day as if it is your last
And eventually you will be one who is proven right
For all of us there is a last day and night
We are not born to life to live eternally
Tomorrow some will not wake for to see
The longest lived human life in real time not a very long span
So live for as long as you possibly can
Live for the years do go quickly beyond our lives prime
And eventually we all become victims of time.

Roslyn

Her husband Ed with Roslyn  he did not stay
He now lives with another woman in a town far away
Her primary school going daughter and son she works to clothe and feed
Of life's necessisties she makes sure her children of will not go in need

Child support her ex husband to her does not pay
Far too many of his sort in the World of today
Any moral responsibility he has not shown
He left her to raise their two children on her own

At thirty three Roslyn an attractive brown haired woman in the prime of her life
To Ed she was a loving and a devoted wife
But three years ago he walked out on her and the children to start a new life elsewhere
With the new love in his life in the big World out there

Roslyn does not have a lover or a partner with her it is once bitten twice shy
And at starting another relationship she is unwilling to try
She has a young son and daughter for to worry about
And of another man in her life she can do without

On life's disappointments not one for to dwell
On raising her children on her own she does rather well
How she copes so well on her own is a story to inspire
She is a person that is not hard to admire.

For All Things In Life

Not everyone born to life to become a great name
Though they do go well together the two wealth and fame
And though you may become wealthy and famous one day
For all things in life there is some price to pay
Though by many of their admirers their praises are sung
The wealthy and famous some of them die young
Money and fame not all they thought it would be
They felt happier by far living in poverty
It is part of our human existence to be hard to please
Many of the wealthy and famous do not know of mind ease
Though many admire them and their praises do sing
They come to realize that money and fame are not everything
Most of the happy people in every town
Are those who are strangers to wealth and renown.

Enlightened People

They will never be the admired of the town
Nor do they even wish for local renown
For attention with others they never compete
The enlightened in their humble way are discreet
The people who to self never drinks a toast
Of their acvhievements you never hear them boast
Whilst many their own praises do like to sing
As true quiet achievers they do their own thing
Enlightened people are enlightened and wise
That self praise is no praise they do realize
So very few people do know them by name
They never do yearn for wealth and for fame
But by the values they hold it is obviously clear
Than most are to their higher self they are near.

The Self Obsessed

How come other people we wish to impress
With our stories of our material and our personal success
The egocentric seek the approval of others every day
It is only of self they have nice things to say
The value of your home or the value of your car
Does not say anything of the person that you really are
It is how you treat others says more about you
Than any other thing you achieve can hope to do
It is not saying anything that is in any way that is new
That the self obsessed of the World are no longer in the few
The panic buying due to COVID-19 in the mentally stressed
Is due to fear in the ego of the self obsessed
The self obsessed from their higher self spiritually far away
And sadly their sort not rare in the Human World of today.

Not Good Enough

Some religious and far right extremists have become the mass murderers of today
Though for their terrible crimes they are made to pay
That they had been radicalized for them used as an excuse
For the families of their victims this is of little use
Their minds full of darkness of any empathy they lack
The lives they have taken to life cannot be brought back
Consumed by the hatred that drives them to kill
On those different to them they only wish ill
Political and religious extremists are people to fear
Of their terrible crimes too often we read of and of hear
In the twenty first century extremist crime is on the rise
And this in itself is not any surprise
Since the laws on gun control to say the least is not tough
That many disturbed people own guns is not good enough.

If This Media Report Be True

If COVID-19 gets any worse people over sixty will be left to die
Preference in treating those who are younger this is not a lie
If this media report be true few of us oldies this pandemic may not survive
And many of us will be soon bound for our final drive
Seen as of less value to the economy as those younger in years
The government does not place much value on the lives of old blokes and old dears
Suppose the government on paying aged pensioners big savings will make
Youth over age always receives preference when lives are at stake
Though i worry a lot about the health of my wife
As for myself i am one who has had a good life
And if to COVID-19 i am one who is to fall
Worrying about it will not help me on any way at all
If in the treatment of COVID-19 youth will receive preference over age as we have been told
Many over sixty may not live for to die very old.

On Verbally Putting Down Of Others

On verbally putting down of others you put yourself down
As we are all of the human race black, white and brown
Red is the blood in all of our veins that does flow
Racist and xenophobic people are not nice of to know
In humanity for discrimination there ought not to be a place
There are many good and some bad people in every individual race
There is a saying if you cannot love yourself as your mother loves you as her daughter or son
Then as a person you are incapable of loving anyone
Those who believe on a fair go for some only and not on a fair go for all
In their way of thinking does seem rather small
For to make a better and fairer World for to live in
With improvement of self we have got to begin
In our thinking we create our own reality
Though with this opinion some would not agree.

Of COVID-19

Of COVID-19 people ailing and dying
And many supermarket shelves are empty due to panic buying
Brought on by fear of having to self isolate at home from the new pandemic disease
In the mind full of fear there is no peace or ease
Those involved in panic buying of food and toilet paper only does think of their own need
Fear for the survival of self which does give rise to extreme greed
Those into panic buying seem lacking in empathy
And are of the non compassionate side of humanity
It is true that fear can be a survival thing
And the praises of living for self only many happy to sing
But in this time of COVID-19 the generous, compassionate and kind
Of the needs of others are not of closed mind
And these are the people that we ought to admire
Since goodness in others they try to inspire.

He Is Not The Man Now

In his late teens  he was the town's greatest athlete
Touted as a future Olympian and so quick on his feet
Far from an old fellow he is only forty three
He is not the man now that he used to be

In athletics he was one who was tipped to go far
But on his twentieth year one evening when crossing the street he was hit by a car
By a hit and run driver who had been driving too fast
All he has now are his memories of his happier days in the past

His terrible injuries has left him in a wheelchair
But you never hear him say life to him is unfair
With luck he would have competed for Olympic Gold
But it is only with memories of what might have been for him that he will grow old

The woman that he was to marry with him did not stay
he lives with his mother and father today
By a dangerous driver his life's dreams destroyed
He is one who did not have luck on his side

In the park on his wheelchair him i often does see
He always smiles and waves a good day to me
At home with his parents without a partner or wife
A hit and run driver ruined his dreams in life.

It Is A Known Fact

It is a known fact and fact never lie
That the longer you live the sooner you will die
Life for us humans like all other life forms will end one day
Life's Reaper on our lives has the final say
The Reaper the one who does not differentiate
Between the lives of the lesser and the lives of the great
The one who claims the lives of the very young and the old and those in their lives prime
Can pay you a visit at any time
Though of it's praises you never hear anyone sing
Death in itself it is not a bad thing
There is no inequality where dead people lay
Where earthworms live there is only decay
We are born to mortality why otherwise pretend
Our journey in life for us all has to end.

Australia The Great Land

To write of it has inspired the writers of song, story and rhyme
This big and wide Country that is so old in time
Where an old race of human beings to this day reside
And for it's fauna and flora it is known Worldwide
So much for explorers yet to learn about
Of Australia this amazing Country of the far south
Outside of the big towns and coastal cities houses are few
That it is the World's most urbanized Nation is not saying what is new
A visit to Australia for many lives as an enduring memory
So much for a tourist from elsewhere there for to see
Even in the Dreaming Time it was very old
And so much of it's history remains as untold
Of it's lure to tourists Worldwide there can be little doubt
Australia the great Land of the far south.

It Is Said Of Most Wise People

It is said of most wise people that they do not realize
That they are not in any way that is wise
Though in their words they never does cause offense
And they are people who are blessed of very good sense
Every day one does not  meet a sagess or sage
And not everyone does grow wiser with age
Even wise elders are few in the World of today
And no fool like an old fool as some like to say
Of a few wise politicians in government every Country in need
But of life this is asking far too much indeed
Since wisdom could not live where self interest is rife
And would not feel at home in political life
Of the needs of others the wise are aware
But sad for to say they remain ever rare.

Far North Of This Countryside

Far north of this coastal countryside by Warrnambool
In Millstreet Town i went to primary school
But going back the years this now seems long ago
And time that rusts iron has since become my foe

Perhaps some of the boys i went to school with like me from Millstreet ageing far away
And some in Duhallow did choose for to stay
And since on how long we live we do not have the say
Some of them now in eternal rest do lay

In life we all have our own journeys to make
And we learn as we live from our every mistake
And that we learn as we live is not based on a lie
We will be learning from life until the day we do die

Time it has made an old fellow of me
And i only have memories of the what used to be
When in years i was far from my physical prime
But this is going back many Seasons in time.

It Is True That A Smile

It is true that a smile does not cost one a thing
And a flutter of joy to someone it may bring
Who is not having a near to good day
A smile from a stranger on passing the way
That a smile can work wonders happens to be so
A silent way of saying a friendly hello
The one who has a big smile on her or his face
Though a stranger is made welcome to every place
The one who is sad faced and looking mentally down
Is never the most popular one of the town
Sad looking people are lacking in the inner glow
And few of them ever do wish for to know
The one who smiles easily joy does share around
A beautiful way of greeting that does not have a sound.

Your Pathways In Life

It is true we become like those we admire
If to be wealthy and famous in life is your desire
Then more than likely as humble you are not likely to stay
As most of the wealthy and famous are not humble in any sort of a way
If your idea of a fair go to some only does apply
Then on reaching your higher self you are not even attempting to try
Since most materialistic people from their higher selves are not anywhere near
This is something to all that should seem obviously clear
Most of materially minded people are not spiritually blessed
With money on their minds they become self obsessed
In their sort love, compassion, kindness and empathy is not their thing
Of their praises i am not one of those who does sing
Between spirtuality and fame and materialism the gap it is wide
Your pathways in life are for you to decide.

Of Those With Love And Kindness In Them

Of those with love and kindness in them in truth one can say
To help other people they often go out of their way
Always performing good deeds a few every day
To make a better Human World for all to live in their part they does play
Those who have love and kindness in them also have compassion and empathy
And for those doing it tough have genuine sympathy
Hard to understand government leaders who to poor people in their policies are cruel
Power in their minds is like a fire boosted by fuel
Genuine refugees by them incarcerated as if they are guilty of crime
In detention condemned for to serve years of time
Those with genuine love in them in parliament not to be found
And sadly in large numbers they do not abound
Those with love and kindness in them of the needs of others aware
But sadly their sort are becoming more rare.

Destiny In Our Lives

Destiny in our lives has some part for to play
In Claraghatlea i was not meant for to stay
The yearn for wander took me far away
From the place where i first looked on the lamp of day
Of my younger years the memories with me last
And sometimes i think of my friends of the past
Though like me they too would be showing the signs of time's decay
And even some of them where the deceased are now lay
For most of us our younger years the best years of all
Only in memory today with them i play football
But most of them in the flesh i may never more meet
As i live in distance far south of Millstreet
And memories are all i have left to retain
Of faces and places i may not see again.

Fear Is A Good Thing

Of their phobias and fears many will never be free
And what applies to many applies too to me
This Coronavirus is the big human fear of today
Though it is the Grim Reaper on all lives has the final say
In most of us the ego is strong one reason we do fear death
For life we do fight until our last living breath
With your talents millions of people you well may impress
But your life is the greatest gift you do possess
Fear is a thing that does keep us alive
Without some of it we could not hope to survive
Forget about dying and your end of life's plan
Just live for as long as you possibly can
Live and fear is a good thing in it's own way
As it never does exist where dead people lay.

Their Numbers Are Many

Their numbers are many but sad for to say
They are the fringe dwellers of the Human World of today
That few of them vote politicians of are aware
One reason the government about them does not seem to care
The stateless the homeless and financially down and out
The people who know what the hard life is all about
They are often hungry life for them an uphill fight
And they often sleep without shelter under the cloak of night
Some uncaring people who are quite fond of their own voice
Say on how they live they too have the choice
By their ill formed opinions of people they do not even know
Their ignorance in their utterances they only do show
Their numbers are many and growing by the year
Yet of them so little we read of or hear.

Beth And Jim

Beth Ray's ex husband Jim he was buried today
At peace with himself he forever does lay
But his funeral Beth she did not attend
As she no longer did look on him as a friend

For his sudden death she did not have a tear to spare
Their children and grandchildren is all they had left in common to share
When drunk he used to beat her him for this she did not forgive
She will retain her bad memories of him for as long as she will live

Beth in her early sixties two years younger than the now deceased Jim
Does feel sorry now that she ever met him
The man she used to love she looked on as a foe
Her love for him had died many years ago

She feels sorry now that she choose Jim instead
Of the one who loved her the gentleman Ted
For our mistakes in life always some price to pay
That she has lived to regret with her it is this way.

For her love of him he repaid her in fear
And at the news of his death she did not shed a tear
She intends to stay single for the rest of her life
And she will never again be another man's wife.

I Left Duhallow

I left Duhallow but Duhallow did not leave me
In my visualizations erstwhile friends i do see
Though i have not seen them for years and from them live far away
In my memories of them they have not aged a day

For as long as the gift of memory we retain
Mental pictures of the past in us does remain
In fancy i walk in the old fields again
Resplendent in their Nature's flowers after recent Spring rain

In the place where i daydreamed i would be a poet
One seen to be worthy of literary note
But daydreams as such for so few do come true
And such honours in life are not to be my due

In the green countryside where old Blackwater flow
The love i feel for Nature in me began to grow
But going back the decades this now seems long ago
And since time that ages all things has become my foe

I left Duhallow when Winter her cold winds did blow
And the Boggeraghs were wearing their white hats of snow
Only to realize Duhallow has followed me far south
With the fields of the badger and waterways of the brown trout

From Duhallow i have been a long time away
And perhaps there i will not spend my life's final day
But in my visualization i can hear the babble of the rill
Flowing down from the high fields by Clara's old Hill.

Though Many Admirers

Though many admirers for yourself you may not win
Your power to do good in you is within
And you too can make the Human World better to live in
But in so doing with your own self you have to begin
Any improvement of self is never too small
The room to live as better people is in us all
Those who believe they were born to live for self only believe their own lie
They have not learned that to life there is more than living for the i
People who help those of helping in need
For their future good Karma are planting the seed
Life alone is not about the good things for yourself that you do
What you do for others as a person says more about you
Than your any other achievement or form of material success
Though those of kindness and compassion the impressionable masses never impress.

The Unenlightened

He said to me your rhymes in numbers do grow
But financially for your time you have nothing to show
For your writing efforts in the ways of financial gain
Your low social standing it's own self does explain

He said i am one of the wealthiest men in the town
And mine is far more than a local renown
In my factory managed by my middle aged son thirty people employed
Of my life achievements am i not entitled to feel pride

When i reminded him since his factory manufactured plastic bags he is not Mother Earth's friend
He smiled as he said i would not even pretend
To respect any environmentalist as you seem to be
Suppose like all of your greenie mates you often hug a tree

He may be many times a multi millionaire
But with him i have nothing in common to share
By one i know i was introduced to him in a casual sort of a way
As they were out walking in the park one day

My casual acquaintance told him i was a man of rhyme
Which to him of course was a big waste of time
His sort are known to lack in common sense
And with their words often cause verbal offense.

Have You Ever Thought

Have you ever thought back on your life
Of the disappointments and the inner strife
Of the worries and the times of stress
Though you have known of some happiness
Of times when your worth as a person you did doubt
When you wondered what life is about
The feelings of high and of low you have known
But on this you are not on your own
Your physical prime is in the long gone
But your love of life makes you want to live on
You are one who has known of the good times and the bad
But in life there is happy times as well as sad
But you will live on until that last night and day
When the Reaper of lives will come reaping your way.

The Pride Of Duhallow

She lived in Duhallow near old Kanturk Town
A beautiful young woman with eyes of light brown
And dark wavy hair close to her life's prime
Though this is going back many Seasons in time

She went off for to live in the U S of A
And she would be in her early fifties today
She left a young lovelorn Kanturk man in tears
But most love aches do heal in the passing of years

She was the rose of Kanturk as well as the pride
Of the Barony of Duhallow's green old countryside
One wonders where she might be living today
And did time as it can do steal some of her beauty away

Into an attractive young woman she did grow
In that beautiful place where old Allow does flow
Adventurous and too young then to be anyone's wife
And in Kanturk she would not live all of her life

As she age perhaps all of her beauty she does not retain
But in all who knew of her fond memories will remain
Of the Pride of Duhallow who lived near Kanturk Town
Of raven shoulder length hair and eyes of light brown.

Noela And Eckhart Tolle

Noela she is a fan of Eckhart Tolle
She says he is one connected to his soul
She does admire him as a very enlightened man
And of him and his wisdom she is a loyal fan
Of the greatness of Eckhart she does not doubt
She says the man knows what he is on about
From reading his books she has learned quite a lot she does say
As a World's great thinker he leads the way
Noela is one who is knowledgeable and wise
Honest in her opinions she is not one who lies
Eckhart Tolle is a person she greatly admire
And of singing his praises she never does tire
He must be quite special to have her as a fan
For Noela she is an enlightened woman.

Wise Jimmy

Wise Jimmy who drinks in the local public bar
Says those who talk less of their selves nearer to their higher selves are
Quite an enlightened fellow i have come to realize
For one in his mid twenties he is very wise
A married man with a baby daughter and a plumber by trade
That wise people are born this way as a point of argument can be made
Jimmy does not think he is wise though some wise things he does say
But then wise people are known to be this way
Since they are the people who know of how little of life we do know
And life knowledge and wisdom on bushes and trees does not grow
Wise Jimmy says far too many narcissistic people in the Human World of today
The sort who in life have lost their spiritual way
The people who believe of how great they are
From their higher selves those who live far.

It Is Only Those Different

It is only those different to most others change for the better does create
Not the millionaires and billionaires the impressionable masses celebrate
But the non materialistic people who from the supposedly normal think differently
The independent free thinkers of the twenty first century
Though those who think different from the majority may be looked on as strange
They are the only people who can instigate change
For the mostly self centered Human World we were born to life to live in
Where most people the attention of others does seek for to win
Where so many do compete for wealth and for fame
And to make in the World for themselves a name
For to live life there has to be a better way
Than daydreaming of becoming a millionaire every day
Those who think different to most other people change can only bring about
Though many on such thinking would cast a grave doubt.

Of Life And It's Ways

Of life and it's ways there is so much to know
And of Nature my wonder it only does grow
And the more i do learn the more i realize
That i do know so little this not a surprise
Since i left the fields where the waterways meet
Just west of the Duhallow Town of Millstreet
Many highways and freeways i have been up and down
And i have been to and have lived in many a town
It was my love of adventure made a wanderer of me
But a Duhallow migrant is the best i can be
And like all i learn as i live something new every day
Life has many lessons it does seem this way
One fact of our existence and fact never lie
Is that we never stop learning until the day we do die.

Live And Let Live

Live and let live as a truism remain
The meaning in this it's own self does explain
If you cannot help a person do not do this person wrong
All deeds good or bad to their own Karma belong
On your climb on the ladder of success to material renown
Make sure that you never knock others down
For the Karma we reap in life is what we have sown
This is something to most people that happens to be known
To her or to him you may be a stranger but you can be their friend
If they are in trouble some help to them you lend
The good things we do for others in good things we receive
A theory in Karma on many do believe
We reap what we sow life works in this way
Just live and let live and you will be okay.

The longest Lived Human Life

The longest lived human life of time not that long a span
So live for as long as you possibly can
Live for like all of the deceased you will be forever dead
And for the soul post bodily death is there another life ahead?
For an afterlife for the soul some quite certain about
And though of life after bodily death many do harbour doubt
No deceased person as of yet have come back to tell
Of the existence of these places known as heaven and hell
Every day we live one nearer to our last
Time does not wait it just ticks along fast
The years do not tarry beyond our lives prime
Eventually we all become victims of time
And since we are born as mortals when all is said and done
Tomorrow will dawn but not for everyone.

You May Live As A Good Person

You may live as a good person in every way
And perform at least one good deed every day
And the respect they are due to others do pay
Yet there are some of you who will not have nice things to say
There are some who believe that those caring and kind
Are not very balanced and are soft in the mind
For those doing it tough in life they have no sympathy
Some people do sadly lack in empathy
People who are compassionate and kind they could never admire
To live like the wealthy and famous they only desire
But sadly there are people like them in every town
Who only show disrespect for the financially down
To your higher self you may live as true
But not everyone will pay you the respect you are due.

Not Of The Few

In life the more we do learn the more we realize
That we do know so little this not a surprise
We learn as we live someting new every day
That we never stop learning it does seem this way
Those who think they know everything are lucky indeed
Of any more knowledge they are not in need
They do not belong to the enlightened kind
Those who to more knowledge do have a closed mind
On your leaving school why otherwise pretend
Your acquiring of knowledge in life should not end
We learn from life until the day we do die
That knowledge is infinite is not a lie
Every day we do live we do learn something new
Our lessons in life they are not of the few.

Some Say We Receive From Life

Some say we receive from life what is only our due
But in so many instances this is not true
In a World where for one to win big many do have to lose
Winning is the thing everybody does choose
But we all cannot be winners humanity does not work on this way
There are more losers than winners in the World every day
That death is the great equalizer is not a lie
Everbody is born to eventually die
Class distinction does not exist where dead people lay
That death makes us all equal does seem true to say
In a World where millions of people for this thing known as success compete
In life every day some new challenge to meet
So death cannot be such a bad thing after all
Since it does make equal the great and the small.

The Reaper Of Lives

The Reaper of lives is reaping night and day
On life the one who does have the final say
Between the wealthy and the poor the one who does not differentiate
Yet the one that anyone does not celebrate
The one who claims the lives of the great to the small
The Reaper of lives the greatest egalatarian of all
The one who renders the president and monarch and wealthy celebrity
to the status of the insect that does crawl
To the scythe of death the greatest does fall
To anyone the one who is never a friend
Is the one who does bring every life to an end
Many refer to the Reaper of lives as a he
But others will tell you it may be a she
The one who claims all lives eventually
Will come reaping my way to claim the life from me.

Mick Jagger

So much written about him and so many stories of him told
Mick Jagger the rock star he is getting old
He has had many sexual flings and more than one partner or wife
He has had his nights of passion in his long life
Even at his concerts today young women for him scream
Just to be his lover many of them do dream
He is not the man they make him out to be
But then sometimes our eyes only believe what we wish them to see
Mick Jagger is wrinkled and skinny and tall
And like every famed rock star his ego not small
But for being egotistical him one hardly can blame
I too would be if thousands of females were screaming my name
His better days may be in the forever gone
But as the Rolling Stones frontman he keeps singing on.

Old Bill's Best Memories

Old Bill's best memories are of the days when he was young and strong
He says i am one who has lived for far too long
I am not a shadow of the man that i once used to be
When many young women used to smile at me
Nowadays even most ageing females me tend to ignore
No interest on an old bloke close to the four score
Quite a handsome man back in his life's prime
Just one more who is showing the ravages of time
Ten times a great grand-dad divorced from Mel his wife
Old Bill he has known better days in his life
Young women do not smile and greet him today
He does not look well looking old balding and grey
He used to be known as a man among men
But he is one who has aged so much since back then.

Ageing Males With Big Egos

Any wisdom with humanity they do not have to share
Ageing males with big egos are not even rare
The truth in the saying i have come to realize
That all people grow older but few do grow wise
When i am out walking on the park or the street
Ageing males with big egos i often happen to meet
Though on conversing with them i do not delay
As i find them quite boring in truth i can say
They do think they are god's gift to women kind
Their idea of greatness is all in their mind
They talk of their big homes, swimming pool and new car
And of how on the success ladder they have climbed far
Far too many of their sort i know of or have known
But like as is said it is each to their own.

Far North Of This Countryside

Far north of this countryside near Warrnambool
As a lad i was dunce of the primary school
But since then many a night followed by day
And time has left me older and balding and grey
But this did not stop me of enjoying my youth
For i had some good times for to tell the truth
And though i was no use at sports or football
Playing games with my young friends the best fun of all
The years pass so quickly youth with us did not stay
And that time does not wait only true for to say
In cemeteries from where i live north and far away
Some i went to school with forever do lay
And some like me years past their physical prime
And too showing the wear that does come with time.

There Is An Old Saying

There is an old saying that much does want more
Perhaps it is one you have heard of before
In many people for things material there is a strong need
The yearn to be wealthy does lead one to greed

It is true that the wealthiest one in the town
Only climbed to the top because others slid down
The one to emulate so many desire
It is not the poor the impressionable masses admire

In any town a poor one is never a person of the day
Humanity is not designed for to work on this way
In a Human World where only the winners do seem for to count
Is this what our human existence to does amount

Even in social gatherings where the groups do meet
So many for attention with each other compete
In the twenty fiorst century narcissism is on the rise
They are becoming a rare breed the humble and wise

Thanks be to for Life's Reaper is all i can say
The one who makes everyone equal one day
It is not such a great Human World to live in
Where so many must lose for a few for to win.

Not An Honourable Profession

In parliamentary sittings between the governmeent and opposition it is blame and counter blame
For the tough economical times for many between them it is always the same
The blame game goes on between them in parliamentary sittings every day
But they all readily agree for a rise for themselves in pay
When i hear a politician criticize  an opposing party i give it the deafened ear
Their partial opinions i do not wish to hear
For the sake of the betterment of the people of the Country they could never agree
And some of them even blame poor people for their own poverty
That most politicians are self serving only true to say
Themselves before Country has always been their waay
Their own and their political parties praises they only do sing
For to serve self only in life seems their thing
Not an honourable profession is how it seems to me
Though many with this would not agree.

The Coronavirus Or COVID-19

A new disease that kills humans nowhere safe from it to hide
Coronavirus or COVID-19 has made it's way Worldwide
There has been some disagreement to where it began
Most do say China though some say Iran
That it is a bad virus cannot be denied
Many who have contracted it already have died
Of this disease that can bring a premature end to your life
Worldwide the fear of it among human populations is rife
That it can be quite lethal is obviously clear
On the radio news every day of more deaths of it we hear
I too does fear it of this i won't lie
There must be far better ways for one to die
And much speculation to where where it began
Many believe in China though some say Iran.

He Is A Good Man

Though the perfect human being not yet born to life
He is a good man who is nice to his children and wife
Though he has a few beers with his friends on a Saturday night
He goes home in peace without looking for fight
He earns his livelihood in the honest way
And works very hard for his every take home pay
Of the needs of his marital duties aware
Of his wife and his cchildren he does take good care
To be wealthy and famous he feels no desire
Now here is a man that we ought to admire
His own praises one never does hear him sing
To live as a good person in life is his thing
A down to earth man in good example he lead
Though of his sort little we hear of or read.

Only The Unknowable

To die we all have to though death we do fear
And the reason for this in most is obviously clear
Many people worry what will happen to their soul when their body does die
And those who believe they have the answer to this believe their own lie
Suppose our fear of death is fear of the unknown
And this is a feeling that i too cannot disown
But eventually death does come to all
Humans and creatures from the great to the small
The Reaper of Lives is reaping night and day
We are born to eventually die life works in this way
Some die at a young age and some live to die old
And only the life stories of the wealthy and famous published to be sold
Every day we live to death we draw near
But it is only the unknowable of post bodily death we do fear.

One Of The Most Generous

One of the most generous of people on his side of the town
You ask of him a favour he will not turn you down
He will help you in any way he possibly can
For he is a kind and a generous man
Since no to anyone is a thing he finds hard for to say
He is one who performs a good deed or two every day
To help other people he often goes out of his way
Without expecting the rewards of monetary pay
It is not saying anything that is in any way that is new
That people in the World like him are so few
To his higher self he is one who is true
Though few pay to him the credit that he is due
For public attention with anyone he never compete
Yet he is as generous a person as one could wish for to meet.

True To My Calling

I have written so much about old Clara's Hill
And the fields of Claraghatlea and the Claramore Rill
That to the big rivers babble night and day
To the Atlantic waters from here far away

I have written of people i know and have known
And my number of rhymes to the thousands have grown
And though some tell me my hobby is a waste of time
It is something i love doing and by law not a crime

My rhymes i do post to an internet site
And of my travels in Australia so much i do write
The rhymes come to me in notebook i pen them down
It all started for me back near Millstreet Town

Just one the literary critics do choose to ignore
To my growing number of rhymes every day i add more
Though each day brings me nearer to the end of my life span
I will die as i live a rhyme loving man

My better days in life in the forever gone
But true to my calling i do keep rhyming on
If i told you i will quit rhyming this would be a lie
As i hope to be doing it on the day i do die.

The Old Bloke

The old bloke has lost his sexual desire perhaps he is in need
Of a libido booster such as cialis or viagra or a more natural sexual enhancer like horny goat weed
Many times a great grand dad of his sexual prowess he felt proud
But even the most virile of males to father time have bowed

His ageing wife has left him for a younger virile man
With whom she may well live out her life span
Quite a sexy woman for her age she does seem
And her leaving him has shattered his sense of self esteem

Not as energetic as he was nowadays he easily tire
For sex and the pleasure that go with it he has lost his desire
He had many extra marital affairs during most of his married life
But it is common local knowledge that so too did his wife

In his late seventies for him one has to feel sad
As his loss of libido has hit his pride bad
Nowadays he never looks younger women up and down
As he walks on his own in the park of the town

That time tames the best of them would you not agree
He is not the man that he used to be
For his virility and sexual reputation women him did admire
But he is no longer the sort of man that most females desire.

Forget About Death

Forget about death and your end of life plan
Just carry on living for as long as you can
For death is forvever as you ought to know well
And what happens beyond rigor mortis in truth who can tell

Who knows what happens to the soul after bodily death
Whether it lives on elsewhere or dies with you when you draw your last living breath
Or whether you are buried or cremated it will not matter to you then
Death brings an end in thought in all children, women and men

If you die as a wealthy person the chances are
Your children for your millions will wage their own verbal war
That well may end in a court of law
And the bad feelings between them their lifetimes will remain raw

Humanity will exist when you are long dead
So forget about your end of life plan enjoy life instead
Of worrying about dying make the most of each day
There is not any laughter where dead people lay.

More Losers Than Winners

Though losing is a thing anyone does not choose
For one to win big many do have to lose
There are more losers than winners in the World every day
Humanity is designed for to work on this way
To the winners the admiration and glory and fame
And every loser does become a forgotten name
This is how it is and how it will always remain
In losing for anyone nothing to gain
But only the noblest do lose with grace
And hold their heads high despite loss of face
But the reason the wish to win in most a cherished desire
Is that the winner is the one the majority of people admire
There are more losers than winners in the World every day
Humanity is designed for to work on this way.

He Believes That In Life

He believes that in life to receive one must give
And true to his higher self he is trying hard to live
Though for his future good Karma he plants the good seed
To live true to your higher self is a tough task indeed
Though always willing to help the financially down
He is not one of the admired on his side of the town
Though he feels that for being kind to others admiration is not his due
To his higher self he is trying to live as true
It is mostly the same in every city and town
Most of the kindest of people live even as strangers to local renown
Though the kindhearted are people we ought to admire
For their generosity reward they never desire
From anyone in trouble he never turns away
And he performs a good deed or two every day.

It Is Not A Free Country

It is not a free Country where in the dark
Of night women are too scared to walk in an unlit street or park
To so many females a genuine fear
That is not unfounded quite obviously clear

It is not a free Country where a man beats his wife
By some this is seen as part of married life
And by the law not looked on as a serious crime
Things have not changed that much over decades of time

It is not a free Country where children are abused
By strangers or in their family homes in crimes that cannot be excused
Crimes against the innocents to this one must ask or say
To live in is there one free Country in the World of today

It is not a free Country if due to your religion, skin colour, nationality or race
You are not welcomed by everyone to every place
Though you are a good person of discrimination you are not free
In any free Country this never would be

It is not a free Country where serious crime is rife
Where good people in a foul way lose their gift of life
You ask is there one Country Worldwide of crime that is free
Your answer to this ask one other than me.

Narcissism As Is Known

Narcissism as is known is love of self gone wrong
And to any form of real love it does not belong
Narcissistic people the needs of all others ignore
Obsessed with self only themselves they adore
But sadly narcissists are not in the few
That they are on the increase is not saying anything that is new
With their mobile phones taking selfies of themselves every day
Of narcissism they perform a public display
Narcissistic political leaders are no longer rare
Mostly arrogant ageing males who of their own needs are only aware
They are like the weeds of the garden who stifle every flower
Obsessed with themselves and their need for more power
Narcissists do nothing for humanity
With them it is only all about the me.

Fond Memories Of Birdsland

A place that i did visit many a day
Though from there i now live many a kilometre away
Birdsland in South Belgrave with a charm of it's own
As a safe haven for wildlife it is widely known

With my faitful dog Jedder when she was alive
In my old datsun to Birdsland i often did drive
On my walks with her we played fetch the tennis ball
To my four legged black and white friend her favourite game of all

The loud quacks of  the female black duck and the softer call of the drake
Are Nature 's sounds i recall from Birdsland Lake
Where the nasal call of the wood ducks one often does hear
They live in Birdsland every day of the year

Of Birdsland great memories i have to retain
That for as long as i live in me will remain
But going back the Seasons this seems long ago
And time that ages all things has become my foe

Jedder and the old datsun have gone the ways of time
And i am nearer now than i was then to my final rhyme
Fond memories of Birdsland today i retain
And in fancy i often do go there again.

The Young Stud

When walking the street he does strut up and down
He has a huge ego the young stud of the town
In the pub with a few beers in and his tongue on the wag
Of the women he has seduced to his mates he does brag
But of the women he says he has made love to there is none he can name
To be a local braggart his one claim to fame
The young stud is the nickname that he is known by
Though it is known such a name to him should not apply
As he has never had a known lover or may never have a wife
Just an egotistical young man in the prime of his life
He is one of those fellows who to himself drinks a toast
With a few beers in of his imaginary love conquests he does like to boast
As a great local lover he wishes to be known
Suppose one can say it is each to their own.

We All Are Quite Different

We all are quite different would you not agree
Even the most like minded in some ways do think differently
The social groupings in every community
In their meetings not always perfect harmony
For the opinions we hold we become better known
One can say we all do have minds of our own
But how boring we would seem if we all thought in the same way
And agreed with everything that everyone else had to say
Though you are a member of a tribe you live by your own mind
And you do have the choice to be rude or be kind
But those who promote inequality in their thinking quite small
For a fair go for some is not a fair go for all
Even to the like minded to whom we relate
In some of our opinions we differentiate.

Even For Criticism Of Them

Even for criticism of them i am losing my desire
Our political leaders impossible to admire
An inept and corrupted government and an opposition that is far from great
Politically they have Australia in a sorry state
In Australia government pork barrelling is rife
With the government it has become a way of life
The sport rorts and every other rort too numerous to name
The government they have lost all sense of shame
In Parliament House so few worthy sitting members there
For heroines and heroes one has to look elsewhere
Than half of Australia's politicians far better in jail
On their duty to the people of the Country they surely does fail
All one hear from them is lies and more lies and more of the same
Of decent politicians not many to name.

On Coronavirus

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is a new human pandemic that does cause widespread fear
Of the previously unknown does seem obviously clear
Supposed to have it's source in Wuhan in China it now seems Worldwide
In the Human World most things lead to panic that has fear on it's side
That it is a cause for worry cannot be denied
As it is said from it already many people have died
To the ageing and those in poor health it can be fatal it is said
On it's travel from person to person Worldwide it has left many dead
Due to panic buying of toilet paper beacause of the illness supermarket shelves of it are bare
In a time of fear and panic only compassionate and kind people for others does care
So much of this new supposedly flu like illness we read of and hear
The media has become a Worldwide known source  for the spreading of fear
But we are all born to life to eventually die one day
And one must ask what all of this panic is about anyway.

Those Obsessed With The Self

Those obsessed with the self from their higher self far away
This is an old wisdom that is relevant to today
Since self obsession is only narcissism in disguise
The best i can do is to quote from the wise
That obsession with self takes one from the higher self  makes for good sense
Against such timeless wisdom there is no verbal defense
Those living remote from their higher self not of the few
And this is not saying anything that is in any way new
My own higher self i do not live near
That i am far from it to me is obviously clear
Suppose what i dislike in others i dislike in me
Self obsessed people every day i does happen to see
Taking selfies on their mobile phones for to post to Facebook maybe
Many of us live on the darker side of  humanity.

Life Like the Toddler

Before the toddler does walk the toddler does crawl
And the toddler does rise again after every fall
Just like the toddler learning to walk in life for everybody many an up and a down
For people in every city Worldwide and in every village and town
Every day for us cannot be a happy day
For us all many an up and a down life works in this way
Those who believe in giving in life to receive
Contentment in their minds can hope to achieve
True happiness is not meant for you and for me
To live content in our minds is the best we can hope to be
You must have known of days when you have found it hard to smile
And often thought to yourself is living life worth your while
Life is like the toddler who before she or he walks has to learn how to crawl
And must learn to rise again after every fall.

At Sting Ray Bay

A beautiful February evening in Sting Ray Bay
In the blue and sunny sky just a few clouds of grey
On a near to perfect weather temperature of eighteen degrees
The scent of the ocean is blowing in the breeze
To sit on a timber bench for a half of an hour or more
Listening to the waves lapping on the sandy shore
By parked cars in the car park silver gulls in an aggressive mood
As people eating in their cars throw them scraps of food
In Nature the weak are never known to thrive
And only the strongest can hope to survive
This morning we did have heavy showers of rain
But with such a nice sunny evening it seems hard to complain
Listening to the ocean waves lapping on the beach at Sting Ray Bay
Earthly Utopia from here cannot be far away.

Thanks Be To Life's Reaper

Thanks be to Life's Reaper who wields the scythe of death
Who from the wealthy and influentially powerful does steal the living breath
Deceased billionaires are not influential today
Since the Reaper on their lives had the final say
Fair dues to Life's Reaper who creates equality 
The one who treats as equal the wealthy and those in dire poverty
For the one who claims all lives never a loud hooray
Doubtless the most feared one by most people seems true for to say
The Reaper of lives equality does create
Between the social rank of people the one who does not differentiate
Thanks be to Life's Reaper whose praises i for one will sing
The one who treats as equal the pauper to the queen and the king
Celebrities like ripe wheat to the scythe does fall
Of the Reaper of  life who claims the lives of all.

The Days Of The Rhymers

Though most will tell you it is a waste of time
For those as a hobby who like writing rhyme
That the days of the rhymers are in the long gone
But the rhymers love rhyming and keep rhyming on
Though the ways of the World are changing fast
And rhyme is a literary form of the past
There will always be rhymers in every town
Who write for enjoyment not for wealth and renown
Rhymers do not have a good literary name
And by critics are seen as unworthy of fame
One has to suppose that they did have their day
Even in literature the changes keep on happening as time ticks away
Literary critics say rhymers are unworthy of any literary note
That a rhymer is one who cannot be a poet.

Nice To Be Nice

To try to live as a better person is never a sin
But the power to do good can only come from within
The genuine love of self has a ripple effect
As it leads to compassion and for all others respect
Narcissism is self love that has gone all wrong
And to any form of love it does not belong
Far too many narcissistic presidents and prime ministers in the World of today
Who abuse their power in the very worst way
To be kind to others on it should not have a price
So much truth in the saying it is nice to be nice
Social standing and rank the negative side of humanity
As they give rise to this obnoxious thing known as inequality
Those who try to live as better people are praiseworthy indeed
And of more of their sort the Human World is in need.

That Poor Poet Of Dublin

That poor poet of Dublin who died long ago
Perhaps Ireland's greatest writer though not many say so
He remains in the shadows of Joyce and Beckett and Heaney and Yeats
Just to mention a few of Ireland's literary greats

A poet whose story is seldom told
He died in eighteen forty nine at forty six years old
When he was one can say in his literary prime
Though some of his poems they have lived on in time

Perhaps one reason for the neglect of his legacy as a poet may be
That he was one who lived and died in dire poverty
In the famine years in Ireland when so many dreams were destroyed
When so many poor people of consumption and malnutrition died

Some of his famous poems such as Dark Rosaleen, A Vision Of Connaught and O Hussey's Ode to Maguire
Remain of the highest order and poems to inspire
And his Woman of Three Cows, The Nameless One and Twenty Golden Years Ago
Are poems that time of has not become the foe

A poet Irish people of ought to feel proud
But in the Ireland of today so few sing his praises loud
He wrote poems for the love of it not for wealth and fame
That poor poet of Dublin James Clarence Mangan was his name.

Do Keep Dreaming On

Though ageing to your life dream you ought to cling
For who knows what tomorrow to you will bring
Your journey in life thus far has been quite rough
But at surviving you do good enough
In your early seventies divorced from your wife
You are one who has never had an easy life
Your children or grandchildren nowadays you never see
You have learned to live with your own company
On an aged pension with rent and bills to pay
You struggle on in life from day to day
You often do dream of a big lotto win
The hopes for times better for you in you lives within
Do keep dreaming on your dreams might come true
Your turn for a big lotto win may be due.

A Wonderful Gift

Far greater than any other form of success
The greatest gift any human does possess
It's praises i always feel happy to sing
The great gift of life is a wonderful thing
Wealthy and talented and famous people are gifted no doubt
And of them we read and hear so much about
But without their gift of life they would not exist
And therefore could not be on the honourable list
Than the great gift of life no greater gift indeed
To survive in the World it is something we do need
For those who have lost it no future ahead
Only earthworms live in the graves of the dead
It's praises i always feel happy to sing
The great gift of life is a wonderful thing.

My Wonderment Of Nature

My wonderment of Nature only seems to grow
Though little of her ways of i can claim to know
Some of her beauty i see in my walks every day
She is quite amazing in truth one can say
Her beauty to view we do not need to pay
She and her sibling Mother Earth complement each other in every way
Nature provides for Mother Earth the means to grow the food to live we do need
One can say without them we could not hope to survive a fact of our existence indeed
On Nature like Mother Earth to live we depend
Yet we do not treat either of them as a  friend
Her wonders are many and her secrets not few
And every day of her we learn something new
True to her rating she remains the World's number one super power
From a tiny seed she creates a beautiful flower.

On Dancing With The Stars

I am not into space travel but i would rather watch a program on Mars
Than as some on t v do watch Dancing with the Stars
Egotistical celebrities who are obviously poor at dance
They ought to give those good at dancing on t v a chance
Of showing how good at watching those great at dancing can be
Watching Dancing with the Stars is just not for me
Why do famous celebrities so many admire
And of watching them on t v never seem to tire
Celebrities who are not good  at dancing and leave those who can dance their dancing skills to show
Instead for t v watchers of celebrities watching so called dancers who of dance nothing know
I feel celebrity non dancers in Dancing with the Stars the image of good dancing destroy
But then watching them try to dance to many brings joy
Though not into space travel i would rather watch a program on a journey to Mars
Than sit and watch on t v Dancing with the Stars.

Of Changes In Ireland

Politically and culturally i believe there are chnges in the Ireland of today
Suppose few things remain as they were life works in this way
In politics in Ireland Sinn Fein are on the rise
To some anyway this comes as a surprise
In Ireland a Country of migration a reversal of late
For to start a new life people to there migrate
They bring with them their cultures which is a good thing
Though of the praises of multiculturalism many choose not to sing
The Ireland i was raised in was run by the church and State
But this not the case now change for the better of late
And change for the better never comes at a cost
The Catholic Church and the two major political parties most of their power have lost
Ireland has undergone more than most countries great change
But this does not in any way seem new or strange.

Years Ago

Years ago in every southern Winter i said i would return to Ireland in Spring
In April when the wildborn birds build their nests and sing
And the cattle on nutritious young grass from months of eating silage and hay
Are looking contented and gaining weight by the day
When the old fields lush and green after the recent showers
Are looking resplendent in their Nature's flowers
And buttercups are blooming by the silver tongued rills
And young lambs around their mothers play on the high fields by the hills
Self promises it does seem far too hard to honour for me
Suppose Ireland in Spring i may never more see
I have not been to my home Country for thirty four years
But for the what used to be i have shed my last tears
Yet every winter to myself i do say
I would like to go back to see the flowers of May.

Without Your Memories

Yesterday just a memory of what has been and gone
And today as usual life does go on
But without your memories how sad life would be
One must feel for those who have lost their gift of memory
Alzheimers and Dementia not rare among ageing people of today
One would not wish it on their worst enemy for to live in this way
To live without memory is to be of the living dead
They cannot remember the past or think of them what must lay ahead
A good memory for survival is a human need
And those who do not have it are quite unlucky indeed
I do feel quite privileged for to remember the past
And i hope until death this gift with me will last
Next to life the greatest gift anyone can possess
Far greater than any other form of success.

In Truth I Can Say

I have been lucky in life in truth i can say
In some of the beautiful people i meet every day
People who to help others often go out of their way
Far more good people in the World than bad in truth one can say
But having said this one must also keep in mind
That everyone you meet every day is not caring and kind
The people who only know how to receive
On giving to others they do not believe
That humanity is comprised of all sorts of people happens to be true
But that from life we receive what is only our due
In some instances anyway is based on a lie
Some good people remain poor until the day they do die
But i feel lucky in life in truth i can say
In the many good people i meet every day.

Joe Dodd

Not one of the happy people of the town
For many years Joe Dodd was mentally down
But last month of his deep sadness he set himself  free
With a rope tied to his neck and the low branch of a tree

Joe now shares the grave of Sam his deceased dad
His widowed mum Lyn in her early eighties the grief has hit her bad
For Joe her only child she is in tears
Such a heartbreaking loss for a mother of her years

Joe in his late forties did not have a partner or wife
Though in his early twenties for a while he had a lover in his life
But she did forsake him when he became mentally unwell
Leaving him to suffer on his own in his mental hell

Joe lived as a good man despite his ghosts of the mind
He never harmed anybody in his ways he was kind
Though despite doctor prescribed medication some of  the loud voices remained in his head
And he reached the conclusion he would be better off dead

Than battling the ghosts in his mind every day
His gift of life he felt he should give away
So with a rope he hung himself from the low branch of a tree
And of his hell on Earth he did set himself free.

It Does Not Bother Me

It does not bother me if some think my rhymes are a bit rough
And to be called a poet i am not good enough
What matters most to me i love penning rhyme
Though some will tell you i am wasting my time
Since for writing i never receive money as pay
Some even advise me to give rhyming away
But since with rhyming words i am one who loves to play
For one like me never any hooray
I just add to my number of rhymes every day
I used to love reading rhymes as a young boy
And writing them nowadays is a thing i enjoy
My best days as a rhymer in the forever gone
But for as long as i can do i will keep on rhyming on.

Rated As One Of The Top Poets

The supposed to be the best poet in the town writes of love and life
And in some of his poems he serenades his children and wife
A modern poet with literary degrees
His poems are read and recited in universities

But he never writes poems of how life can be tough
On the homeless and hungry who at night do sleep rough
To write of such people beneath his dignity
He only writes for the highbrows of society

He leaves the task to a lowly rhymer like me
To write of the people in dire poverty
To write of poor people would not enhance his public esteem
He only writes for the literary purists is how it does seem

In the town's posh uptown cafe whilst sipping a wine
He reads his latest poems perfect in every line
At the end of each poem for him applause and an encore
And they tell him well done could you read us some more

Though he is a good writer him i do not admire
Since to be like him i do not aspire
Rated one of the top poets of the town today
That we all cannot be winners seems true for to say.

Dr Sheila O' Sullivan Becker

Sad to read an amazing Claraghatlea born and raised person has died in the U S A
Dr Sheila O' Suillivan Becker a true heroine in every way
Survived by her two daughters and predeceased by her husband Jay
A Dr and an author that her fame will outlive her only true for to say

An amazing Ambassador for the Parish of Millstreet
A famous Claraghatlea woman that i would have loved for to meet
In her lifetime of achievements so many she did inspire
And not in any way surprising that so many people her did admire

One can only say of Sheila that she earned her spot in fame
She did not depend on others for to make for her a name
Born in the late nineteen twenties in Ireland back when times were quite tough
But on her great lifetime journey she proved herself good enough

In Dr Sheila O' Sullivan Becker Ireland's loss was America's gain
But her strong love of her Birthland she always did retain
Her heart that beat with kindness is now forever still
Far south of Claraghatlea North in view of Clara's Hill.

Jim's Life Dream

Most men have a life's dream and so too did Jim
But the dream that he had did not come true for him
He hoped that Melinda the one he loved him would wed
But he never even once did take her to bed

It is true what we cannot have in life we do miss
From Melinda he never even stole a kiss
When he asked her to marry him she laughed in his face
Saying between you and i Jim marriage will never take place

When he realized the favours of Melinda would be in vain to pursue
He eventually married his second choice Sue
With her nowadays he only shares their children and grandchildren in common and little else more
She has remarried and he remains single in his life of years three score

He still loves Melinda after all of those years
And at memories of her his eyes moisten with tears
Though he has not seen her for years and she lives far away
As an ageing grandmother in the U S of A


The only woman he loved his marriage proposal turned down
The saddest day ever for him in the town
Jim is ageing without a woman today
It can be said sometimes life works in this way.

On Little Ravens

So much about them for to learn of and know
The birds known as little ravens or the pale eyed crow
Of human kind they are suspicious and shy
But that they are clever birds of them none can deny

Of glossy black feathers and greenish palish eyes
Birds smarter than most people seem to realize
I have seen them dip hard crusts of bread in water to soften to eat
And they often raid rubbish bins for scraps of meat

Smaller than their cousins the Australian ravens who have a long drawn out caw
Though similar in some ways the difference between them not hard to draw
The little ravens have less prominent throat feathers and are smaller in size
And that their caws are much shorter one comes to realize

The females lay greenish spotted eggs of six down to three
On flat nest of sticks on high branch of tall tree
Where people are and food is  they are always nearby
And that they are very clever birds of them none can deny.

The Admired

One can say in the majority of them there's a lot to be desired
The majority of the people by the masses admired
Those who have climbed the ladder of material success
The gullible inspirational never fail to impress
Since they are admired for their wealth and their fame
That they are arrogant and narcissistic in their ways them one can hardly blame
A quote from the wise too much praise can go to the head
A truism that remains relevant of this to be said
They are admired by people they do not even know
And their admirers in numbers by the day grow
If you are in the media news every day
Down to earth for you would be hard to stay
Since they are admired by huge numbers of people they do not even know
It makes it hard for them to retain the inner glow.

At Michael Schack's Birthday Party 22-02-2020

On the verandah of Mickey Bourke's Hotel the Wednesday Whistlers did play
In the Town of Koroit at the party for Michael Schack's birthday
The barroom of the pub it was full to the brim
His family and friends and relations were all there for him

The great Michael Schack  a man among men
He had made it to his Birthday of  three score and ten
Of his life he has  some great stories to tell
To survive a liver transplant he is one who has done well

Of all of the musicians of Victoria's south west
The humble Michael Schack remains one of the best
A quietly spoken fellow of few words to say
But truly a leader in his own down to earth way

His lovely wife Helen for her man full of pride
As beautiful as the day she became his bride
Devoted to each other for so many years
They have shared their moments of laughter and tears

He is one not in a hurry to his grave
To undergo and survive a liver transplant one does have to be brave
A down to earth fellow yet one to inspire
For his great love of life he is one to admire

A man on his word on who you can depend
For his kindness and humility he has won many a friend
So many his Birthday Party did attend
The sort of day one hopes would never end

Good memories of Michael Schack's Birthday will remain
In the future in all who attended to visit again
A major health scare he has had to survive
And so good to see him happy and well and alive

In the lounge of the pub Michael played with The Dead Livers his musician friends of the past
At Michael Schack's party a few hours went so fast
In The Koroit Hotel on a warm February evening out of the sun
Only smiling faces everyone having fun

One not in a hurry to join the ranks of the dead
In 2020 a great year of  him may be ahead
His favourite team Collingwood may well win the A F L  Premiership Flag
For one like him this would be worthy of a quiet brag

A huge milestone Birthday for the great Michael Schack
One of late who has had many a major health setback
One of life's quiet achievers of him one can say
He did have a huge turnout for his Birthday.

Red Flowering Gums

In Summer in January and February
Clusters of red flowers on every flowering gum tree
So lovely to behold in the sunlight
For lovers of Nature a beautiful sight
Compared to most species of eucalypt they do seem small
The red flowering gum trees not known to grow tall
But for their blooming beauty they are loved and known
And with the finest of flowering trees do hold their own
In Nature every day there is beauty to see
A beauty to view to everyone that is free
When in  bloom in a garden a red flowering gum tree
Is a sight for to live on in the memory
When in bloom the red flowering gum trees have a beauty that is rare
With the finest of flowering plants they do compare.

Next Month She Will Leave

Her hair is as dark as the wing of a crow
And with lovely brown eyes she does not show
In her body language any sign of conceit
She carries joy with her when walking the street
She is in the town only for a short stay
As she comes from a place north and far away
Though in her year here she has made many a friend
Next month she will return home when her work contract end
A down to earth beauty who seems free of guile
She greets everyone with a beautiful smile
A beautiful young woman she has just turned twenty three
She misses her home and friends and family
Though she likes the local people here she will not stay
Next month she will leave for her home far away.

So Sad For Those

So sad for those lacking in the inner glow
Since they are the people of few wish to know
Though honest in their appearance and seemingly lacking in guile
They find it hard to win friends those who cannot smile
Not a nice World to live in for the sad faced and mentally down
They are never the heroines or the heroes of any town
Though a certain amount of credit to them is due
Since to their higher selves they live as true
A false self in public they never display
That they are what you see of them one can say
But they are not popular since their moods do seem black
And they do have few friends since in charisma they lack
But in their public face to their higher self they are true
And for this at least some credit they are due.

The Wind Turbines At Codrington

The wind turbines at Codrington are noising night and day
And those who do live near them do not have nice things of them to say
Since of noise pollution they cannot sleep at night
Any talk of their value to the environment does not fill them with delight

Into the wind turbines at Codrington under the night sky
Birds that are migratory often does fly
In the fast spinning turbine blades in the wind they die instantly
Wind-power too has it's disadvantages is how it seems to be

Why those living near the turbines about them complain
Is something that does not seem hard to explain
On windy nights due to the loud noise of the fast spinning blades they cannot sleep
The main reason their silence on this they cannot keep

The Moyne Shire Councillors voted for to switch off the turbines at night
But on the results of the proposal for the residents of Codrington no smiles of delight
That the motion was heavily defeated is worthy of note
Only one councillor Jim Doukas for the night switch off did vote

Wind-power may be better than burning of fossil fuels but not perfect it does seem this way
The wind turbines at Codrington are noising night and day
And though the loud spinning blades are not nice to live near
For a cleaner environment they have their advantages seems obviously clear

Home Is Where

For everyone there is a place to call home
For the Londoner London for the Roman Rome
To some home is distant from where they first saw light of day
Many thousands of kilometres away
Even the nomadic  refer to their homeplace
Where today their's would be a stranger's face
Though they cannot settle down anywhere
Long distance travellers of the big World out there
Even the homeless their sense of home is strong
In the poor suburb  they feel they belong
Though in life they cannot hope for to win
Where they do not have a home to live in
Everyone some sense of home does retain
And home is where the heart is as a truism remain.

As Australia's First People

From many parts of their Country the black tribes have long gone
But many stories of their existence today living on
Their's is an old culture so very old in time
And has become the inspiration of the writers of song, story and rhyme
On warm Summer evenings by the rivers in the shade of the trees
To the didgeridoos they enjoyed their corroborees
But on the arrival of Europeans on the southern shore
Something beautiful it was lost forever more
They are the fringe dwellers of the Australia of today
And on the governing of their Country do not have a say
Their lot is the lot of Indigenous people Worldwide
On how they should live the descendants of the invaders decide
But at least one great honour they do retain
As Australia's first people they will remain.