Richard's Or Australasian Pipits

Birds that are never seen in the park of a town
With pale grey undersides and mostly mottled brown
Whilst walking on short grass searching for insects they wag theit tails up and down
Though abundant they remain as strangers to bird renown
Richard's or Australasian Pipits are one of the same
They are pipits by nature and pipits by name
They are birds rural people do see every day
The males have an undulating aerial courtship display
And quite different to larks in their behaviour and song
Though not related to wagtails in some of their behaviour the resemblence is strong
In a nest of grass under a tussock from view well hidden away
Three to four buff brown dotted eggs the female bird lay
Often seen by the roadways of the countryside
Their range it is huge Australia wide.

Words Can Be Quite Hurtful

To verbally offend another person is not in any way that is nice
Sometimes before speaking once one ought to think twice
Words spoken in anger can often offend
And even bring a good friendship to an abrupt end
The mental wounds of offensive words often linger for years
And by them their victims have often been reduced to tears
Some people in their words can be deliberately unkind
Which only proves them to be quite callous of mind
The hurt of offensive words in their victims last for more than a day
And sadly some do find pleasure in the cruel things to others they say
The mental wounds of cruel words can be slow to mend
And so disappointing when used to hurt you by one you thought was your friend
Words can be quite hurtful why otherwise pretend
Especially when used to deliberately offend.

One Of The Tribeless

A law abiding person you pay your taxes and you vote
But in your community one seen not to be worthy of note
Not a member of any community or sporting club
And you are not a patron of the local pub
On your side of the town in interests with others you have little to share
You are one of the tribeless and your sort are rare
You live in your own way and do your own thing
And your own praises or the praises of others you never do sing
An outsider in your own community but you like it this way
On the politics of your locality you have nothing to say
You do not have friends or you do not have foes
There is a price for being tribeless one does have to suppose
Respect to the privacy of others you pay
And you are quite kind in your own gentle way.

We Age Rather Quickly

We age rather quickly past our physical prime
And eventually we all do run out of time
And whether we are buried or cremated and our ashes spread from an urn
We belong to Mother Earth and to her we return
On the ladder of material success you may have climbed far
And of you many may say of how marvellous you are
But time on your life will have the last say
And each day you live one nearer to your last day
The ageing of today were young years ago
Time that ages all life has become their foe
Like all other life forms us humans are mortals why otherwise pretend
And each day we live one nearer to our end
Live every day as if it is your last and one day you will be proven right
For you too will die as sure as day follows night.

What Is Life about At All

The babies to walk must first learn how to crawl
And learn to rise again after every fall
But eventually life's reaper pays everyone a call
And one must wonder what life is about at all

Is there life for the soul after bodily death
Or do it die in us in our life's final breath?
One can only envy those who never do doubt
The meaning of human life and what it is all about

For this thing known as success with others every day we compete
Yet a contented person one does not often meet
Many see it as a badge of honour financial success
Are we born into life others for tro impress?

For one to win big many lose every day
In a fair Human World it would not be this way
Yet the most contented of people do give to receive
And this is something that is not hard to believe

We are born into life to eventually die
And those who believe that money will bring them happiness believe their own lie
And what is life about at all ask one other than me
Only know you will not find the answer to this in any cemetery.

An August Morning

In late Winter when in the grey dawning the blackbird does sing
You know that it cannot be that far from Spring
Though the weather is chilly just above zero degrees
And a wintery breath in the freshening morning breeze
August in the late southern Winter is a cool time of year
Yet the nest building birds tell that Spring it is near
And even in Winter natural beauty to be seen
After the recent rain the countryside looking green
On their bulky nest of sticks high on branch of tree
The little ravens are brooding their green brown dotted eggs of six, four or three
And the magpies already have nestlings to feed
Of the nearness of Spring this does give proof indeed
A blackbird is singing in the dawning grey
For to herald the birth of a cool August day.

Our Reflective Mirrors

Others are our reflective mirrors is how it seems to be
And the coldness i see in some is the coldness in me
And in those i think to be bright and happy i see my own brighter side
The human flaws we are born with from ourselves we try to hide
Most of us like others to like us this is a natural human thing
And those who say nice things of us some joy to us does bring
But when the truth is spoken of us we do not wish to hear
That most of us mentally thrive on flattery is obviously quite clear
Our acquaintances are many and our true friends of the few
This is only common knowledge and nothing that is new
What we like and dislike in others in our selves is within
To possess a bright and darker side is not a human sin
The flaws we see in others in our own selves we see
Though most people with such a statement i am sure would disagree.

Is This Really All

The yearn for wealth and fame and this thing known as pride
Are flaws of the self that to our egos are tied
And contentment in the mind do deprive of space
Some people have their lacking in happiness etched on their face
So lucky are those who seem happy enough
Though financially poor and in life doing it tough
Who finds it easy to smile as if they do not have a care
Though of financial woes they do have their own share
Though financially poor their worries seem small
As is said of life one cannot have it all
The richest woman in the town she was buried last May
In life happiness from her always seemed far away
Over her money and property her family have fallen out
Is this really all that life should be about?

For So Many People

For so many people in the Human World of today
Life is a battle uphill all of the way
That many people born to disadvantaged parents is not a lie
As poor they do live until the day They do die
That money speaks every language none can disagree
But in a fair Human World this would never be
Circumstance of birth will always decide the homeless and downtrod
The poor of the World of the lesser god
Yet death is the leveller as poet James Shirley did say
His prophetic written words remain as relevant today
The wealthy like the poor to life's reaper must fall
Time as is said it does take care of all
In a World where millions of people at night must sleep rough
The journey in life for many is tough.

It Is Something I Enjoy Doing

Though to doing it i give some of my spare time
To others i never do talk of penning rhyme
Since far too many of my hobby used to say
Why bother doing something that does not pay
Without money to go with it or fame
It is something i enjoy doing just the same
Though my worth as a rhymer i often do doubt
No shortage of things for to write rhymes about
Rhymers nowadays strangers to literary renown
The literary lowbrows of every town
Though for doing it i never receive any pay
I feel no desire to give rhyming away
If i told you different this would be a lie
I hope to be doing it until the day i die.

White Browed Babblers

In small babbling flocks they greet the dawn of day
Quite interesting birds for to learn of one might say
They have a chattering squeaky sort of song
To the family known as babblers they do belong
Brown heads with white brows and mostly brown with breasts of palish grey
Familiar birds in their own charming way
They build an untidy nest of sticks on uprioght fork of tree
And the female lay blotched eggs of two or three
With long slender slightly curved bills they search for insects on the ground
And turn over leaf litter as they walk around
Compared to some other species of birds they do seem rather tame
And white browed babblers for them an apt name
In small family groups together they sing along
And to the babbler family they do belong.

Most People In Their Ways

It can be criminally connected or due to a sense of pride
That so many people from others have secrets to hide
Though many your business do wish to know
Respect to their own private affairs they always do show
Barring a few exceptions it happens to be true
That the person you portray yourself to others is not the real you
In our thoughts we can be elusive which is obviously clear
Any negative stories of self to others we do not wish them to hear
The more curious the person the more their own privacy they do guard
For to understand this should not be that hard
Though when others express their opinions on me this does suit me fine
For this is their business and their business not mine
Elusive in some of our ways behind our false masks we hide
And most people in their ways much the same Worldwide.

For To Be A Worthy Winner

Those who try their very hardest in the end always succeed
Success is sure to come to you if for it you have the need
For to be a worthy winner with grace you must have learned to lose
You do not always receive from life for what you wish for most and choose
There are fewer winners than losers in the World every day
For one to win big many must lose humanity works in this way
Many born to disadavantage due to their birth circumstance
Of living a successful existence they stand very little chance
There are more losers than winners in every village, city and town
Yet you will know who your true friends are when you are financially down
Winners have the most admirers this is how it is and will always be
Though everyone cannot be a winner none with this could not disagree
But those who try their very hardest success it will come their way
For to win well you must first lose only does seem true to say.

Life Is All That Matters

Last year his wife passed away she was eighty one
Together they raised to adults their daughter and son
Who are grandparents his genes will live on
And his better days in the forever gone

Of his medals for bravery he has nothing to say
That he won as a young man in a war far away
Though actions speaks louder that words it is true
He does not claim the honour that should be his due

The hair on his balding head is silver grey
He is one i see often though not every day
Walking in the park always on his own
An ageing war hero to few he is known

A humble man in him so much to admire
He risked his life to save a wounded comrade under enemy gunfire
When he was in his twenties in his physical prime
And this is going back many decaades in time

From memory he wishes his name for to fade
Yet he was a true hero where heroes are made
He never attends any war street parade
That ends at the Town's war memorial where the last post is played

A humble octogenarian free of conceit and guile
I once asked him about his life he said with a smile
Heroes are made and honours are won
But life is all that matters when all is said and done.

Mickey And Ag

Old Mickey Malooka quite bored in his life
Spends hours every day arguing with Ag his wife
When they were young the love between them it was strong
Perhaps they have between together for far too long
Great grandparents in their eighties some sixty years wed
Though living under the one roof nowadays they do not sleep in the same bed
Nowadays loving words to each other they never do say
They have an argument or two every day
Between them no loving words like i love you
And socially their own things on their own they do
She plays lawn bowls with her friends at the bowling club
And he enjoys his few beers with his mates in the pub
Between Mickey and Ag love it has died
And sadly for them time is not on their side.

Far South

Far south of Claraghatlea near Millstreet Town
The roads of life i have been up and down
Yet not financially successful in any way
And to many this is what is most Important in the Human World of today

In retrospect the years do go so fast
And all we have are memories of the past
Eventually we all do lose out to time
We slowly age past our physical prime

Though i have not seen Claraghatlea for many years
For the what used to be i have shed my last tears
And memories are all that i now retain
Of faces and places i may not see again

Far south of where i first grew to love Nature when i was a boy
Of learning of her ways today i enjoy
Of Nature we learn something new every day
That we never stop learning it does seem this way

We can go to the past when we visualize
This is something that we do come to realize
But life does go on as the wise one does say
And each day we live nearer to our last day.

Although

Although you never did have to sleep rough
You do complain that life on you is tough
A nice home to live in a good job and a new car
Yet you do not realize of how lucky that you are

A beautiful wife and two lovely daughters attending primary school
And in your backyard your own heated swimming pool
Yet you speak as if you live in poverty
You are not as poor as you think you are it seems to be

Though with your lot you never seem satisfied
In your life luck it has been on your side
You have never had to live a hungry day
Yet you do not seem to see it in this way

Quite a difference between negative and positive one has to suppose
One person's weed to another is a rose
Humanity is made of every kind
And unhappiness is just a state of mind.

As Long As To Others

As long as to others it does not cause grief
You should be quite entitled to your belief
But sadly in some Countries in the World of today
By regime decree it does not work in this way
Where to speak against an autocratic regime is an offense
For some to keep their opinions to themselves makes for better sense
Where the people who speak out do languish in jail
Since in their loyalty to their government they have been deemed for to fail
Most free thinking people in such Countries do not wish to live
But any opportunity to leave their government to them will not give
And most of those who manage to escape from their Country of origin are not welcomed elsewhere
And they swell the numbers of the refugees of the big World out there
As long as your beliefs are non voilent it should be quite okay
But in some Countries of the World it does not work in this way.

When You Lose Your Sense Of Pride

For self for them there is no safe place to hide
The once proud people who have lost their sense of pride
For one reason or other they feel in disgrace
And in public wear the guilt of shame on their face
Most of them leave town for to start a new life elsewhere
For to lose themselves in the big World out there
But they live out their lives haunted by their mistakes of the past
Until death with it does bring it's own peace at last
The people by many who once were admired
By them nowadays anyone not inspired
For to sing their praises in their hometown
Few do wish to know of you when you are down
From themselves they have nowhere for to hide
This is waht happens to those who lose their sense of pride.

The Best Things In Life

The best things in life we don't pay for to see
Nature in her natural state to view always free
Of a lesson from her we do not have to pay
And from her we do learn something new every day
My admiration of her only seems to grow
But so little of her ways i can claim of to know
And the more we learn of her the more we realize
That her secrets are many this not a surprise
By Nature with the help of our Earth Mother our food it is grown
Yet she is one who always has ways of her own
Her secrets to say the least as ever not rare
And any of them with us humans she never will share
To view the beauty in Nature it is always free
And these are the best things would you not agree?

A Lovely Day

A lovely day so good to be alive
To have a walk or a leisurely drive
Or on your verandah sipping tea or wine
Feeling relaxed in the Winter sunshine
For time of year the weather pleasant some seventeen degrees
Birds chirping and whistling on bushes and trees
For early August quite a pleasant day
Though Spring in time is not that far away
It should not be hard for anyone to understand
Why so many people love the Nature of this southern Land
It's flora and fauna make it unique in many a way
Among the Nations of the World of today
A nice day for to go on walkabout
On this beautiful place in this vast Land of the south.

Judy Cronin

A good mother to her children and to her late husband Columba a good wife
In Church Street Judy Cronin lived for most of her life
As Judy Healy in Millstreet Town she first saw light of day
And in the old cemetery at the West End her last remains now lay

As the mother of a large family the challenges of life she successfully did meet
And she will be sadly missed from the Town of Millstreet
Quite an attractive looking woman in her physical prime
Though this is going back many Seasons in time

Though of life one who had lived for many years
Her passing it would not have gone without tears
For she was one who did have many a friend
And sadly her journey for her has come to an end

A humble person one who never did seek Worldly fame
She had no desire that her's should become a great name
To her higher self she was one who lived true
And great credit for this it is surely her due

Her passing a sad day for her friends and family
The old Hill of Clara she will never more see
And though the last breath of life from her body has gone
Good memories of her in all who knew her will live on.

Dunkeld Lake It Is Dry

It used to be a spot for waterbirds Dunkeld Lake it is dry
Perhaps the water siphoned from it from roadmaking works nearby
So many black duck and teal and moorhen lived there as well as grebe, wood duck and swamphen
And Nature's creatures again does lose out to the industry of men
The road bridge into the arboretum park widened for the financial benefits of the tourist trade
By us humans Nature and Mother Earth are expendable when money is to be made
But what we do to our Earth Mother to our own selves we do
This is how i can only look at it whatever about you
Dunkeld arboretum lake dry in Winter after recent heavy rainfall
Those who see this as a tourist attraction i cannot agree with at all
That waterbirds need water to all is obviously clear
And when their watery homes dry out the birds disappear
Dunkeld Lake has been siphoned for the financial benefits of the tourist trade
Does some of Nature's creatures have to lose out for money to be made?

If By the Government

If by the government it was deemed to be a crime
I would be in prison for my addiction to rhyme
For their addictions people ageing and in their physical prime
Are judged as lawbreakers and serving jail time
I feel lucky in my addiction i suppose
Since many for their addictive behaviour are in prison clothes
For if rhyming were a crime i would be in prison today
Since it is something that i never could give away
Though for doing it i never receive any pay
With ryming words i am one who just loves to play
People by the law caught smoking a joint today are in jail
For wanting to feel relaxed and laid back they are seen to fail
Quite lucky in my addictive behaviour i suppose
Had i another sort of addiction i would be in prison clothes.

A Slave Of Love

Jim in the barroom as he sips on his wine
Says my wife says everybody else's opinion is better than mine
Which does very little for my sense of self esteem
Love does play tricks on the mind or so it does seem
I married her for love but now i realize
That i am not one who happens to be wise
It was loving her that has me with her today
I am a slave of love in truth i can say
Our son and daughter and seven grandchildren does carry our seed
But is the World of any more people in need
Jim says love's true feelings end in the grave
For many years to it he has been a slave
A slave of the love that he has for his wife
Though in her mind he is not an important person in her life.

Some Tell Us

Some tell us everyone is equal in god's sight
But of the existence of their god cannot say they are wrong or right
Of the existence of a supreme being i just cannot say
Since i do not have a god to kneel to for to pray
Some people for their god wish on others ill
And in knife attacks and bombings and shootings for their god do kill
They believe that murdering for their god is their guarantee
Of a life for their soul in paradise for eternity
If everyone were equal in god's sight poor people would not die in wars and famines every day
A compassionate god would not allow humanity to work in this way
Of their belief in a supreme being cannot say they are right
Only know everyone is not equal in their god's sight
In a Human World for a few to grow wealthy many in poverty
Their so called compassionate god does not seem that egalatarian to me.

Fanciful Thoughts

Sometimes i have these fanciful thoughts in my head
Though nothing wrong with imagining in truth can be said
When a pretty young woman i happen to see
The thoughts come to my mind thinking how nice it would be
To walk hand in hand with her in the park gazing into her eyes
Such fanciful thoughts the imagination to can give rise
Sometimes in my imaginings i tend to get carried away
But i am not the only ageing male in the World of today
Whose thoughts from the path of reality stray
One is never too old to imagine though looking bald and grey
If she knew how i was thinking about her how offended she would feel
Since an old poor bloke like me to her would not appeal
But if she thought i had heaps of money she might feel differently
As it does speak every language would you not agree?

On The Passing Of Tade John O' Riordan

Sad news out of Millstreet Town to read of online today
Tade John O' Riordan of Murphy's Terrace from life has passed away
Grieved by his wife Joan and his many friends and his family
It is said that death came upon him suddenly

Tade John was a man who was well loved and well known
And in his lifetime the seeds of friendship by him were sown
A tall and handsome fellow in his physical prime
Though this is going back many Seasons in time

About him he did have a likeable way
And his type of person makes new friends every day
He will be missed in Duhallow and in Millstreet Town
Where on old Clara Mountain as ever looks down

Tade John was a kind and a generous man
He lived in Murphy's Terrace for most of his lifetime span
The last breath of life from his mortal body may have gone
But in all who knew him good memories of him will live on

A fact of our human existence and fact never lie
Is that we are born into life to eventually die
In view of Cashman's Hill in St Mary's his last remains lay
That he lived as a good person in truth of him one can say.

Time Ages Faces

Some of them in Duhallow choose for to stay
And some of them ageing grandparents of today
And some of them growing old in Lands far away
And where the deceased are some of them does lay
Most of the girls and boys of my youth i have not seen for years
And for the what used to be i have shed my last tears
But in my visualizations i see them again
And young in my memory they do remain
On looking back the years time seemed to go fast
And in memory we only can go to the past
In my visualizations when i meet them again
The girls and boys of my youth young do remain
Time ages faces we come to realize
And were i to meet them today them i may not recognize.

Tribes

Humanitty is built around tribes is how it seems to be
Though between most tribes there is not much harmony
It is a fact all humans belong to the one global family
Though most tribes in their beliefs and their ways far apart culturally
It is the differences in beliefs and values between tribes that cause wars to begin
And in any war even the winners do not truly win
For any war between people comes at a huge cost
As in every war many human lives are needlessly lost
Wars over tribal borders, religious beliefs and cultural differences have been waged Worldwide
And any participants in war never have one hundred per cent right on their side
Wars and rumors of wars we hear of and read of every day
But it always takes two to tango as the wise one does say
The Human World consists of many tribes Worldwide
And their tribal allegiance people are known to divide.

Who Your Friends Are

I did not like him or he did not like me
Though i could not define him as my enemy
Whenever we did meet it was hello or good day
And little else to each other we had to say
With each other we did not have much to do
There was never any liking between us two
The day that my car broke down on the roadway
And my mobile phone battery flat it did not seem my day
Stuck by the road twenty kilometres from home maybe more
Thumbing to drivers for help passing me by the score
None bothered to stop or even slow down
Until the one i did not like or who did not like me from my side of the town
Stopped and gave me a drive home in his car
It is when you are in trouble you know who your friends are.

It Is An Old Phrase

It is an old phrase that was not coined yesterday
That those nearest to the self from the higher self furthest away
And since we all look at life in our own sort of way
You can make out of this whatever you may
Nothing wrong with love of self in truth one can say
If you cannot love yourself you cannot love other people a truism that remains relevant to today
But love of self gone wrong to narcissism gives rise
Though the narcissists of their flaws never seem to realize
Your worth as a person says more about you
Than the good things you do for others than for yourself you do
The kindest and most compassionate of people who help the financially down
Are never the heroines or heroes of any town
But they are great people for to give them their due
And to their higher selves they remain ever true.

For Our Lessons To Nature

For our lessons to Nature we do not have to pay
Her beauty is all around us every day
Beauty to liten to and beauty to see
A silver billed magpie warbling on a gum tree
Nature is one who has ways of her own
And so much about her remains as unknown
Her wonders are many and her secrets not few
And that her lessons are infinite is not saying what is new
I first grew to love Nature when i was a boy
And learning about her today i enjoy
For my years in knowledge i have little to show
And of Nature there is so much to learn of and know
And even most students of Nature have come to realize
That of her they know little this not a surprise.

Australia's First People

Their ancestors who had lived in Australia for thousands of years
At the arrival of the colonizers knew heartache and tears
Their lands taken from them they were dispossessed
And Australia's first people became the oppressed

The unmarked graves of Australia their shameful secrets hide
In massacres and introduced diseases many of the Nation's first people died
Even in recent times their children from them taken not a cause of National pride
When to take children from their parents without justification the government decide

Australia's first people many of them in poverty
Their ancestors the original inhabitants of the great southern Country
Their belief was they did not own the land to the land they belong
And who is to say in their thinking that they did have it wrong

They have a strong sense of belonging Australia's first race
When they are talking of Country they are talking of their homeplace
Many indigenous tribes extinct unmarked graves shameful secrets do hide
Sadly their lot is the lot of indigenous people Worldwide.

Even The Purest Of Mind

Though many with this may not choose to agree
What we dislike in others in ourselves we do see
Suppose we are what we are is how it seems to be
Even the purest of mind of all human flaws are not free
Though it does not make them the most popular people on their side of the town
Some in their words enjoy putting others down
By putting down people the more negative they may impress
The most of their negative friends in their postal code address
The judgmental sort of the World are not rare
Though of their own flaws they are never aware
The more judgmental of the town in some ways are not that different to me
We are what we are is how it seems to be
The words of a wise person worthy of recall
Even the purest of mind are not perfect after all.

Due To COVID-!9

Due to COVID-19 That from China has spread Worldwide
So many have suffered and so many have died
From person to person it travels unseen
A cough or a sneeze can spread COVID-19
It tavels by air by night and by day
And even on surfaces for awhile stay
Wear a face mask and wash your hands the health experts say
And from people you do not know do keep away
COVID-19 or Coronavirus it goes by either name
And the rich and the poor it does treat as the same
It can infect the monarch the president or the billionaire
Everyone of it's victims in need of medical care
If it does not kill you it could shorten your life by years
And the friends and the families of it's victims by it reduced to tears.

More Worthy Of Your Love

You believed she was your true love and your dearest friend
But by email your relationship with her she brought to an end
And so heartbreaking to realize the one you thought would become your wife
Is known for to have a new love in her life
Of the praises of love you may hear many sing
But the down side of love can be a heartbreaking thing
Though the words of a wise one worthy of recall
That it is better to know of love and lose than never know love at all
The grief of lost love from you may be slow to fade
But if she had loved you with you she would have stayed
Your feelings for her are far stronger than her feelings for you
True love is a thing that must be shared by two
But that time can be a healer only true to say
And you will love one who is more worthy of your love one day.

We Are Not As Great As We Think We Are

We are not as great as we think we are this is between us two
It is not all about me or it is not all about you
Or the size of our home or the size of our car
These things should not prove to others of who we truly are
Though to many it is quite an important thing
That others our praises are willing to sing
Suppose most of us need recognition in some sort of a way
The i in our lives has a huge part to play
Though some of the i which is tied to the ego for our survival we need
Having too much of it to narcissism can become the seed
Though they may even be strangers to local renown
Much can be said of the quite achievers of the town
No it is not all about me or it is not all about you
We are not as great as we think we are this is between us two.

Humility Does Not Get You Anywhere

Humility does not get you anywhere in truth one can say
It will not be your ticket to fame in the Human World of today
In the twenty first century promotion of self is the in thing
So many their own praises do love to sing
It is true that we all need some ego in the World to survive
Just to retain some self worth and to keep us alive
But an over-inflated ego to narcissism gives rise
And self centered people in any way are not wise
If you are humble and become famous humble you will not remain
The reason for this should not be hard to explain
It was a wise one the one who first said
That too much praise can go to the praised one's head
A sad World for the humble to live in it does seem
Since the judgmental look on them as people of low self esteem.

A Cow And Her Calf

With eyes brown as chestnuts and bodily hair dark as can be
The black cow across the fenceline was staring at me
She kept staring as cows do in their curious sort of way
As she stood there calmly with nothing to say

Her young angus bull calf of my presence seeminly unaware
His mother's interest in me he did not share
Far too busy enjoying the milk from her teats to find time to spare
And stand with his mother at me for to stare

At the man who does come to see her every day
I am sure she does not stare in a curious way
Cattle are far more intelligent than us humans realize
In their own way they can be quite knowledgeable and wise

Though interest in me in her stare she did show
Of the thoughts in her mind i was not to know
Her young calf suckling from her did not once look my way
He had other interests of him one can say

All of Nature's creatures have ways of their own
And so much about them remains to be known
And the more we learn of Nature's creatures the more we come to realize
That of them we know little this not a surprise.

For Late July

The grass in early morning with frost silver grey
Though it has turned out to be a nice sunny day
With a high for the afternoon of a pleasant fifteen degrees
With even a slight warmth in the coastal breeze
Blowing across Illowa in the sunlit sky
In weather quite seasonal for late July
Five weeks from the beginning of the calendar Spring
How nice in Winter to hear birds chirp and sing
And the warblings of the birds who sing all through the year
The black and white magpies so pleasant to hear
The countryside green after the recent showers
And the wattles resplendent cloaked in their yellow flowers
A winter sun shining in the blue and grey sky
In weather quite pleasant for late July.

Looked On By The Majority

The wealthy and famous in truth one can say
Are looked on by the majority of people as the most successful in the Human World of Today
It was always this way though some with this may disagree
As some do view success in ways differently

On this each to their own one does have to suppose
like a weed to one to another is a rose
Through different eyes difference we do see
If we all thought in the same way how boring we would be

Most of the wealthy and famous are not free of taint
The poor and the humble one is nearer to a living saint
Suppose this is how it is for who you are always some price to pay
In life you cannot have everything it is always this way

The truly successful have empathy of mind
And they are the generous and compassionate and kind
Selfless in their ways for the welfare of others they care
Though their sort in the World as ever are rare.

Second To Life Only

Second to life only good health a great gift to possess
Far greater than any form of material, financial or celebrity success
The money millionaires not feeling well and in hospital today
For to be feeling healthy and happy all of their money would pay
You may be one financially in poverty
But you are young and healthy and of any ailment free
With good health you have a lot to be thankful for and in truth one can say
That your financial situation may improve and lady luck may smile your way
That yopu are lucky in some ways there can be no denying
One of the town's wealthiest people is in hospital dying
And though the praises of money people Worldwide does sing
It is quite important but it is not everything
Good health next to life the greatest gift one does possess
Far better than material, financial or any celebrity success.

Could Be World War Three

The war to end all wars could be World war three
Though one can only hope that this does never happen to be
For this well could spell the end of humanity
It would be Hiroshima in a Worldwide scale in the twenty first century
Government leaders with nuclear weapons at their disposal threatening each other every day
One can only hope that as threats this will stay
People with huge egos who command great power can be dangerous indeed
Of such people the Human World is not in need
Lets hope if they do give orders to drop their nuclear bombs from the sky
That their enemy doubtless too with nuclear bombs would reply
And that the worry of self destruction would be a deterrent to war and this a genuine fear
Of a nuclear war this seems obviously clear
The war to end all wars would be World war three
As it well may cause the extinction of humanity.

Live And Let Live

Live and let live and be the best you can be
And do your bit for the betterment of humanity
You are not an asset to your side of the town
If in your words you enjoy putting others down
By helping those of your help in need
For your future good Karma you are planting the seed
Those willing to give can expect to receive
On some sort of a way one can only believe
There is more to life than living for the i
Those who will tell you differently believe their own lie
Though they never receive the credit they are due
The kind and compassionate to the higher self true
Without seeking the rewards of money for pay
To help people they often go out of their way.

Purple Swamphens

Similar and closely related to moorhens though moorhens in their size do lack
With large red bills, red frontal head shields, pink legs and mostly purple and black
Eastern or purple swamphens either name to them does apply
And their long legs do dangle when they choose to fly

Within their range often seen grazing by ponds and lakes in towns and the countryside
And when threatened or feeling endangered they run or fly to the water reeds to hide
Of human beings they are wary though not all that shy
And their is a harshness in their loud alarm cry

On raised platforms of flags and grass in water reeds the female bird lay
Three to five green pink dotted eggs from sight of predators well hidden away
The dark lanky young with their long legs and long claws make for an ungainly sight
And their parents to defend them even put bigger birds to flight

Birds seen in wetlands and near lakes and ponds grazing every day
And as they walk their tails flick distinct in their behaviour and way
They live mostly in north east to south east Australia but not Australia wide
By ponds and by lakes in towns and the countryside.

It Is True Writers

It is true writers are born and cannot be made
Though every writer is needed in the wordsmith trade
It is not saying anything that is in any way that is new
That the wealthy and famous writers of the World are few
The same as in literature as it is in art
In the promotion of the wordsmith trade hobby writers do play their part
You cannot have a winner if only one does compete in a race
Since there are none for to finisn in second place
And since their literary dreams for them did come true
For the wealthy and famous and successful writers all credit is due
In literature as in most things there are winners and losers is how it seems to be
Though in this as in all things everyone does not agree
Though writing can be beneficial to one's self esteem
Not many successful writers it does seem.

Those Who Claim Education

Those who claim education does broaden the mind
To agree with them on their statement i cannot feel inclined
Since i meet some well educated people every day
Who look upon others in a judgmental way
If education is supposed to make people more broad minded how can one explain
Why to criticize other people in the so called well educated this need does remain
They even criticize strangers to them on how they look
One can say by the cover they are judging the book
To be well educated may be good for your public and your self esteem
But with broad mindedness it has nothing to do it does seem
I know of some well educated people in some of their thinking quite small
Their idea of a fair go does not include all
And despite what many on this have to say
Broad mindedness and education are different in every way.

Memories Of Pad The Master

Memories of Pad the Master remain with me today
He was a wise old fellow in his own gentle way
Though as a boy he did not spend many years in school
He had learned from the book of life he was nobody's fool
He was one without children or a partner or a wife
But he was one who knew a lot about living and life
One who had lived through two World wars he was an interesting man
And he told great stories of Duhallow in the days of the black and tan
One who never made an enemy and many looked on him as a friend
In his thinking not political any political rallies he never did attend
He was a student of Nature though in his ways quite shy
He could tell tomorrow's weather by looking at the sky
He was ageing when i was young time had become his foe
And he was missed from Claraghatlea when he died long ago.

When The Last Breath Of Life

When the last breath of life from the body has gone
Does the soul of the mind forever live on
As billions of people Worldwide in does believe
For an honourably lived life their souls into heaven their god will receive
To live good and devout lives to them seems worthwhile
They believe that their god in heaven on them does smile
And post bodily death their souls into heaven will receive
On a reward for their devotion and goodness they firmly believe
An atheist does not believe in life after bodily death
That the soul too does die in our last living breath
That the religious person and the atheist see life and death differently
But that only one of them can be right one has to agree
But one fact all know of and fact never lie
Is that the human body is mortal and eventually will die.

By The Road Near Cobden

Recently a dead wombat by the road near Cobden Must have been brought to there from far away
As there are no records of wombats living in the Moyne Shire today
Perhaps somebody brought it from elsewhere and released it and on to the road it did stray
This is what most old timers who have lived for years near Cobden do say
I know a man who has lived in the Moyne Shire for eighty four years
A lover of Nature and he seemed close to tears
When he said he has not seen a wombat in the Moyne shire since he was in his life's prime
And this is going back many decades in time
Due to ploughing and hunting wombats are extinct in the Moyne Shire for half of a century or so
And going back the Seasons this seems long ago
To survive in Australia the Country's largest burrowing marsupial Is in need of every friend
On the roadways nowadays many of them come to a tragic end
The dead wombat by the road to Cobden must have been brought to there from far away
As there are not any of them in the Moyne Shire of today.

For Being True To their Feelings

In some Countries people for speaking against their government are in prison today
For being true to their feelings such a huge price they do pay
But to their higher selves they remain ever true
And great credit for their bravery to them is their due
Were i living in such a Country as them i would not be so brave
My opinions on the oppressive regime for private conversations i would save
Fear of the consequences of my opinions would rob me of such bravery
Which makes them as people far superior to me
For speaking out against their autocratic government they may be in prison for many a year
Their price huge to pay for their lack of fear
If everyone were like them of oppressive governments the World would be free
One can only admire them for their great bravery
Of their sort the World of far more is in need
For the betterment of humanity they are sowing the seed.

Mid July In The Moyne Shire

In the coastal Moyne Shire between Koroit and Warrnambool
The day it is windy and showery and cool
Of the black and white birds who sing every day of the year
The warbling of the magpies is so pleasant to hear

About six weeks from September and the calendar Spring
How nice to hear at dawn the male blackbirds sing
Quite soon there will be blossoms on the fruit bearing trees
And the weather will grow warmer by many degrees

In what is typical weather for the southern July
The air is quite cool though the sun shines in the sky
Though mid Winter from Spring in time not far away
And growing a bit closer with every new day

And so very pleasant a thing for to see
A pair of little ravens collecting twigs for their nest high on a nearby tree
Every day of Nature we learn something new
Her wonders are many and her secrets not few

Mid July in the Moyne Shire a cool chill in the breeze
And the day it is cool with a weather temperature high of thirteen degrees
And the blackbirds in the grey dawn so pleasant to hear
Does give one the feeling that Spring must be near.

What Signifies Success

What signifies success the one to ask is not me
Since than most people i look at life quite differently
A poor person can live a successful life if she or he
Despite their life's circumstances live as honourably
And to the higher self try to live as true
If you do live with honour credit should be your due
To me she or he not a successful person though one of the wealthy of the town
If on their way to the top they have dragged others down
Though many admire them in truth one can say
They have not come by their wealth in the honourable way
The wealthy and famous many people admire
And of singing their praises never seem to tire
And though many may admire you as a great name
There is more to a person than money and fame.

The Favourite Does Not Always Win

There is always a bookies favourite in every race
That the punters for to win on their money does place
And though the favourite often first past the winning post and for the winning punters the celebrations begin
But the fact does remain that the favourite does not always win
The losers are never honoured in story and song
And to the winners the glory and what goes with it belong
But when the outsider on the betting is first past the winning post
The winning punters can well afford to boast
For their surprise win a huge dividend they do receive
The outsiders can often become winners if in greatness they believe
That there can only be one winner happens to be true
But to the gallant losers credit is also due
The one born to parents of the lesser gods
Can become a surprise winner at very long odds.

She Or He A Good Person

She or he a good person in truth one can say
Who performs a good deed or two every day
Who for their future good Karma do plant the good seed
By helping anyone of helping in need
The unsung heroes of every town
Are those who do help the financially down
Never seeking recognition or the rewards of pay
So kind and so caring in their own helpful way
They help the poor and the homeless who live hungry and rough
The people in life who are doing it tough
But people like them in the World are so few
And this is not saying anything that is new
Selfless in their ways others they do not wish to impress
But would you not say their life is a success.

By Stingray Bay

A Sunday afternoon in July by Stingray Bay
It is quite a showery and blustery day
In the depths of Winter the weather quite cool
For the time of year typical for Warrnambool
A weather temperature high for the day of fourteen degrees
With a wintery chill in the strong freshening breeze
But of the birds who do sing every day of the year
The warbling of the magpies is pleasant to hear
A large flock of silver gulls eating sea lice on the kelp by the tide washed on to the shore
There must be a few hundred of them there or more
Yet Spring from the south it is not far away
It draws a bit nearer with each passing day
The wind driven rain slanting down from a grey sky
On a windy Sunday afternoon in wintery July.

On The Passing Of Aubane's John Kelleher

For John Kelleher who to many was a good friend
The journey in life has come to an end
In Aubane he lived all of his life
And there raised his children with Kathleen his good wife

Of the old Aubane Gaelic Football Club he was a loyal fan
And in Duhallow he became a well known and liked man
Always supporting the Aubane team in the field of play
Only in death good memories seem to fade away

When Aubane had a Football Club he was in his life's prime
But this is going back many decades in time
And changes have been happening in Duhallow since then
The young of the sixties now ageing women and men

Where the ancient Hill of Mushera as ever looks down
On the green valley of Aubane above Millstreet Town
John kelleher was one who was was well liked and well known
As an honourable fellow one of Aubane's own

The last breath of life from his body has gone
But in all who knew and knew of him good memories of him will live on
He was a great person for to give him his due
And to his higher self he was one who lived true

He was there when Aubane did play their last game
And without him the valley in view of Mushera will not be the same
From life for us all there will be a final release
Among the deceased of Millstreet may he rest in peace.

Dusky Woodswallows

Dusky brown birds with white tips on either wing
It is a simple song they have to sing
In family groups their territories and nests they do defend
On each other for support they do depend
They flock together as a family
And chase aerial predators from their territory
In cup shaped nest of twigs on fork of tree
The female lay brown dotted eggs of four or three
They eat insects such as butterflies, flies and bees
And nectar from the blossoms of the blossoming trees
Sparrow sized birds in small flocks they reside
And as migratory they do travel far and wide
Once seen mental images of them you will retain
And them you are bound for to recognize again.

In Our Environmental Practices

Us humans the assets of the Earth we live on with other creatures have not learned how to share
Due to human destruction of their natural habitat as well as Climate Change many species of animals and birds becoming rare
Our greed for our Earth Mother's assets is out of control
And on many of Nature's life forms is taking it's toll
In the twenty first century fewer song birds to sing
We may be close to the age of the silent Spring
The Earth that feeds us is for our existence and it's beauty to enjoy
And not in our greed for money her beauty for to destroy
That we abuse the one who feeds us to say the least seems strange
Our greed for material gain the instigation of Climate Change
Though our human achievements to say the least not small
In our environmental practices nothing for us to feel proud of at all
With the other life forms of the World we seem unwilling to share
And far too many of us are not environmentally aware.

Our Wonder Of Nature

Our wonder of Nature only seems to grow
And so little of her ways we do seem to know
Of her we do learn something new every day
Her lessons are many in truth one can say
Such joy to so many her beauty does bring
And those who love Nature her praises do sing
The one who creates a flower and a tree
Her beauty to view we do not pay to see
The praises of Nature feel happy to sing
To so many people great joy she does bring
One can say of her she has ways of her own
And so much about her does remain to be known
We learn from her on our walks every day
She is quite amazing in truth one can say.

This Land

This Land that has inspired the writers of song, story and rhyme
It was very old even in the dinosaurs time
It was very old when the first people to it came
A vast Land of the south that did not have a name

This is an old Land it is so very old
And it's true story by historians will never be told
It was there before the first human looked on the lamp of day
The age of this Land anyone cannot say

That we abuse this Land that does feed us seems hard to explain
From her assets the greediest do stand to gain
Sad to think that many of us treat her as if she is our foe
Yet our very existence to her we do owe

Those who talk of Land ownership have it all wrong
How can we own the Land when to the Land we belong
Whether we are buried or cremated in some form or way
In death we will return to her one day

The age of this Land anyone does not know
She was there when the river to the ocean began to flow
Us humans to life come and life from us go
But time to the land it is never a foe.

A July Night

The night is moonless and cold and the sky it is dark
Out there in the paddock a vixen does bark
Perhaps she is in heat and calling for a mate
If she does not meet a male soon for her it will be too late

For if a male fox to her is not living anywhere near
She will lose out on becoming pregnant this year
Due to an increase in poisoning and shooting foxes in this part of the country are rare
Of this the lone vixen would too be aware

On this cold Winter's evening in mid July
A boobook owl is calling on a tree nearby
The voice of a nocturnal predator small birds do fear
They do feel quite nervous with a calling owl to them near

The night cold and dark a chill in the slight breeze
The weather temperature just above zero degrees
And in the coastal lands of the far south
The nocturnal creatures are out and about.

There Are People

There are people in your life you feel glad to have met
And there are people you have known you would rather forget
And words of a wise one worthy of recall
That you may like most of the people you know but you do not like them all
There are people you know to be honourable and just
And there are people you know not worthy of your trust
And only a minority of the many you know you have in your friends list as a friend
That if you are in need of help on them you could depend
You may have a few good friends on you side of the town
Though some you did trust have left your trust down
And a few you thought were friends you had dealings with are crooks in disguise
And they surely did pull the wool over your eyes
You win some and lose some in life one suppose
And those who have friends are not without foes.

Not Of The Few

We learn as we live something new every day
And we never stop learning in truth one can say
And the more we do learn the more we realize
That we do know so little this is not a surprise
In life we never stop learning why otherwise pretend
On the day we left school our learning for us did end
From other people every day we do learn something new
Our lessons in life are far more than a few
Those who believe they know everything are quite lucky indeed
Since of any more knowledge they do not feel of in need
And these are the people who never live to regret
The one who does not know everything has not been born as of yet
We learn as we live every day something new
The lessons in life they are not of the few.

Words Can Be Hurtful

An Insulting word can cause offense why otherwise pretend
And often can bring a friendship to an end
That is if the one who insults does not apologize
And a friendship once lost to resentment can give rise
Words can be hurtful when they are used to offend
And a friendship once broken can be hard to mend
But an apology that is offered with sincerity does often suffice
And for to save a friendship does not seem a big price
The mental hurt of offensive words can linger for years
And only bitterness remain of a friendship that ends in tears
Words spoken or written that does cause offense in the feelings remain raw
And often can end in a court of law
But a spoken or written apology does often suffice
And for to save a good friendship does not seem a big price.

The Boggeraghs In July

On the Boggeragh Ranges from here far away When the high meadows scent sweetly of hay The tiny blue whortleberries the fruits of the heather are ripe for to eat In the taste buds of the mouth a memorable treat The tough uphill climb to eat whortleberries worthwhile on a day in July When the sun is shining in the blue and grey sky And the mottled brown skylarks of human kind shy Are singing as up towards the cloud World they fly And such beautiful views from the higher ground Of the green countryside for kilometres around Marvellous scenic views a lifetime to stay To live in the memory of a nice Summer's day And the blue whortleberries delicious to eat In the taste buds of the mouth a memorable treat.

Nothing To Lose

The poor people who do have nothing to lose Their sort of lifestyles anyone would not choose Since they are the people who do not own a thing And of their praises you will not hear anyone sing Their bank accounts at zero and without cash to spend The one with nothing to lose is one without a friend But one thing about it that as a fact does remain The one with nothing to lose has everything to gain There are billions of them Worldwide in every village and city and town With nothing to lose the financially down Right at the bottom of the social rank They cannot get a loan from any lending institution or bank From their day to day existence they struggle to cope And they look to the future without that much hope.

Capybara

Capybara the largest rodents in the World of today Some of them weigh up to 90 kilos this is heavy for a rodent one can say Native to South America in or near water they reside They can even dive deep from predators to hide Bark, grasses, fruit and acquatic plants they are known to eat And as true vegetarians they do not eat meat Closely related to cavies and guinea pigs though of far bigger size And due to hunting their numbers not on the increase which is not a surprise Outside of South America they have been introduced to Florida in the U S of A Where they seem well established for the long stay On land when pursued they do run rather fast And most large predators in speed are known to outlast To be the World's largest rodents is their claim to fame Native to south America Capybara by name.

In Port Fairy

In Port Fairy a beautiful mid Winter's day The sun shining bright in a sky blue and grey A weather temperature high for the day of sixteen degrees And the tree leaves gently stirring in the slight coastal breeze Even in the depths of Winter natural beauty to be seen After the recent rain the town gardens looking green On such a beautiful day for the time of year The warbling songs of the magpies so pleasant to hear Though the morning was cold from the frost overnight The day nice and pleasant in the July sunlight The dainty black and white birds one does often hear and see The magpie larks they are calling out pee wee On a nice day in Port Fairy in mid July The sun shining bright in a blue and grey sky.

Old Words Of Wisdom

Old words of wisdom worthy of recall The one great to many is not great to all Though your praises many may feel happy to sing To what you are good at to others may not be their thing In our thinking we view others quite differently The heroine or hero to you may not be so to me You may be known Worldwide and many fans have won But those admired by many are not admired by everyone It is something by most people long realized That those with lots of admirers by some criticized On all things and all people all do not agree This is how it is and how it always will be I only say here what happens to be so Old wisdom that lives on from the long ago.

On The Dismissal Of the Whitlam Government

All of this happened forty four years ago And that history does matter happens to be so On the day that the Australian Governor General John Kerr sacked Australia's P M Gough Whitlam and his Government in November 11 1975 Strong feelings from this in Australia to this day survive One can say a momentous day in Australia's political history And what ever your feelings on the matter may be In political discussions in Australia of the dismissal of Whitlam and his Government most like to have their say In Australian politics it lives on as the Country's most memorable day The sacking of the Prime Minister By the Queen's representative is something most Australians do not celebrate And the letters between the Governor General and the Queen's secretary Martin Charteris on public display of late But the dismissal of the Whitlam Government by John Kerr is now in the distant past Though in Australian political circles the strong feelings on this through the decades does last Gough Whitlam and John Kerr in their eternal rest lay But in Australian politics the sacking of the Australian Government by the Governor General remains a memorable day.

It Does Seem A Sad Thing

It does seem a sad thing for to have to say That the poor of the World are getting poorer by the day And the material gap ever keeps growing wide Between those who have plenty and those without a god on their side It is sad to think in the twenty first century That billions of people live in extreme poverty With the increase in the human population the more inequality In a fair Human world this never would be Those who believe all people are equal believe their own lie The only thing the wealthy and poor share in common is they are all born to die Millions are homeless and stateless and of malnutrition dying That many people are doing it quite tough in the World there can be no denying The majority of the material wealth of the World is owned by the few And this is not saying anything that is new.

Rhymers

Eventually we all do run out of time But only in death the rhymers run out of rhyme With little recognition or without any fame or pay The rhymers with rhyming words do love to play Most literary critics claim a rhymer is a non poet And not in any way worthy of any literary note But true rhymers feel no desire for wealth or literary fame And few of them ever become a well known name Though no shortage of them in any village or city or town Most rhymers are strangers to literary renown Though some of them locally become well known They do not have fan clubs to claim for their own Rhymers write rhymes for the love of it little else more Though the literary critics them do ignore.

Memories Of Pudsy

It is going back in time some six decades in years The day we farewelled Pudsy our old dog in tears A brown flood bank high in the Claramore rill Flowing in Claraghatlea in Winter's cold chill In the backyard in the old timber shed On the bed of straw where she slept we found Pudsy dead A tough hairy black and tan dog she was fourteen years old One who loved the out of door life even in weather wet and cold When challenged by another dog she always stood her ground She was the best fighting dog for miles around For us such a sad day in weather cold, wet and hard When we buried our old dog by a tree in the backyard Though Pudsy long gone memories of her remain And in fancy in Con the Master's bog i hunt with her again.

Old Jimmy

On his side of the town most people of him do know

Old Jimmy he does have the bright inner glow

He does not have children or a partner or wife

Yet he is a man who seems larger than life

In his late seventies he lives on his own

And on his acts of kindness good karmic seeds by him sown

A friend to the homeless and the financially down

None kinder than him in his side of the town

By helping anyone of helping in need

Every day he is one who sows Karma's good seed

He will not breathe his last as a millionaire

But people like him in the World are so rare

The years have left him wrinkled and balding and grey

But he is a man who does laugh every day.

It Is A Day From The World

It is a day from the World that you would like to hide

Of  late luck does not seem to be on your side

Due to COVID-19 you have become unemployed

And this does not do much for your sense of pride

The factory you worked in of late was closed down

And job starts are few in a high unemployment town

The local public school is closed your two daughters at home every day

And your wife with you cranky telling you that you get in her way

With no work to go to the time drags on slow

Of far happier days in the past you did know

To be out of work in your mid thirties not good for the health of your soul

You worry about the prospects of a life on the dole

Not much love and respect shown to you from your stressed cranky spouse

You feel like a stranger in your own house.

Ted

Any humility if he ever had it in him is long dead

His ego does barely fit in his big head

He boasts of his life's successes and of how he is good in bed

Plenty of room for self improvement one can say in Ted

With a primary going son and daughter and a beautiful wife

But he does boast of a few lovers in his life

His marriage infidelities are not of the few

Though not alone in this is not saying what is new

With a few whiskeys in at the local pub his tongue goes on the wag

Ted is a fellow who does love to brag

Of how manly he is and of his recent material success

His gullible pub mates he likes to impress

There are a few males like him in every town

Who feel they are worthy of more than local renown

Narcissistic in their ways or so they do seem

And are certainly not lacking in self esteem

On Saturday evening at the local pub

Ted a well known member of the town's football club

Stories of his latest successes to his mates he does tell

For lying a good memory does serve him well

Of the company of narcissistic people i quiickly does tire

And his sort of person i cannot admire

To be into the self in a big way in life is his thing

He should leave it to others his praises to sing.

Common Mynahs

Introduced from Asia they have made their homes in many an Australian city and town

With bare yellow skin under yellow eyes, white tips on wings, yellow legs and mostly dark brown

They are known as common mynahs by name

And when captured for pets they are among the easiest of birds to tame

In many of  Australia's big towns and cities they are established today

Though looked on by many as pests the mynahs are here to stay

In a hole in a tree or a wall in a nest of grass and scraps of paper the female bird lay

Three to five eggs of light pale to grey

Familiar by sight and in their scratchy song

They multriply by the year in numbers their urge to breed is strong

Quite cheeky birds who enjoy the town life and like to have their say

They live on insects and scraps of food humans throw away

Visual memories of them you are bound to retain

And once seen and once heard you will know them again.

Of Religions In The World

Of religions in the World there are quite a few

And this is not saying anything that is new

And all of their members say to the one true god their faith belong

But only one can be right and the rest must be wrong

But if they think they are right then right they must be

Who am i with them for to disagree

They are entiltled to their beliefs in truth one can say 

And to them for this respect i can only pay

If their religion helps them to live as better people this is all that does count

Since if your religion does not make you a better person then for you to nothing it does amount

If you believe that not everybody a fair go is due

To the god that you pray to you are not being true

Every religious person think her or his is the only true god in this respect they all think the same

And of the religions of the World far too many to name.

You May Feel That From Life

You may feel that from life you may not receive your due

But so few do live to see their dreams come true

A lot of disappointed people in the World of today

You are not alone in disappointment in truth one can say

So many like you in the big World out there

People who dream of things better not rare anywhere

To have to work hard for small take home pay few ever would choose

But for one to win big many do have to lose

For a few billionaires millions in poverty

This is how it is and how it always will be

Life is never easy on the financially down

Few do wish to know of the poor of the town

You may feel that from life better you are due

But if you carry on dreaming your dreams may come true.

Leave It To Nature

Forget about dying and your end of life plan

Just live for as long as you possibly can

Life only came to you by circumstance 

And at living you will not get a second chance

You may be one who has known of a far better day

Ageing, not feeling well and balding and grey

But of you some better days may be ahead

You are no use to anyone when you are dead

Far greater than any other form of success

Life is the greatest gift anyone does possess

Leave it to Nature to decide your last day

Better times for you may be on the way

That us humans are born to mortality is not a lie

And you too eventually will have to die

But carry on living though times on you tough

And never say of life that you have had enough

You are one who has lived for quite a long time

Many Seasons past your physical prime

And though from death there is no place for to hide

Leave it to Nature your end to decide.

Grey Shrike Thrushes

Once seen and once heard never more to get them wrong

As they are the birds with the beautiful song

Even in their wooded range birds one does not see every day

About the size of a blackbird in feathers of light brown and pale grey

Not that shy of people though wary of them just the same

Grey shrike thrushes for them is their common name

Their distinctive whistling so melodious and clear

Among birds one of the more pleasant to hear

In large numbers they are not known to abound

They live on insects they find on trees and on the ground

In cup shaped nest of bark and grass in hollow of tree stump the female bird lay

Two to four eggs of brown dots through the grey

Never in flocks and often on their own

For their beautiful whisling song they are loved and known.

Poor Mangan

In the famine years for the people of Ireland a sad time in history

Poor Mangan he lived and died in extreme poverty

In eighteen forty nine of malnutrition and consumption as we have been told

On his forty sixth year this is far from old

In death one who did achieve great literary note

Many claim James Clarence Mangan to be Ireland's greatest ever poet

Though in his lifetime outside of Ireland not well known

As a writer he was in  a class of his own

His name will live in Ireland as long as fields are green

The poet who gave to his Country Dark Rosaleen

And A Vision Of Connaught, The Woman Of Three Cows and O Husseys Ode To Maguire

Are poems that generations of young Irish poets inspire

Ireland's greatest writer many of him do say

In eighteen forty nine from life he passed away.