That Nature Is A Great Teacher

That Nature is a great teacher only true to say

Of her we does learn something new every day

Her wonders are many and her secrets not few

And every day of her we does learn something new

The more we learn of Nature the more we come to realize

That of her we know little this is not a surprise

In her flora and fauna great beauty to see

To view to the viewers that is financially free

The students and fans of Nature her praises does sing

Such joy to so many she always does bring

Yet of many more human friends she is in need

The one who helps Mother Earth to grow a beautiful flower from a tiny seed

That Nature is a great teacher as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain.

Too Much Praise

For their physical beauty people are greatly valued but having said this so are prize winning sheep

There is a truism about physical beauty that it is something that is only skin deep

Most people wealthy and famous for their physical beauty in many ways are not nice people at all

Lacking in kindness, compassion and selflessness one may say of them on their ways quite small

Hard to blame them if they are egotistical since so many people their praises do sing

Too much praise does not give rise to humility as it can be quite an ego inflating thing

In the wealthy suburbs of any town or city selfless sort of people are quite hard to find

Among the wealthy, celebrated and famous not many of the caring and compassionate kind

In a Human World where for one to be a big winner many sad to say are destined to lose

One truism that remains about losing is it is something anyone does not choose

You will not hear of many wealthy celebrities volunteering their money and time where poor people dwell

Only the very best of good and caring people devote their time to those in Earthly Hell

Too much praise it is not good for the ego admiration can go to the admired one's head

In the minds of the egotistical the self only matter and humility sad to say is truly dead.

Carry On Living

Carry on living you will be long enough dead 

Though you have seen many Seasons there may be many more of you ahead

Quite a wealthy person you have known of financial success

But your life is the greatest gift that you possess

In the depths of winter not far from the Spring

Despite the cold weather life's a wonderful thing

In your heated room good weather for watching your favourite program on t v

You do not know it tough how good life can be

You have seen many Winters though the weather is cold

But carry on living though you are growing old

The weather as it is will not have a long stay

And Spring is drawing nearer with each passing day

Carry on living as the wise one does say

Life is a great gift well worthy of a hooray.

Why Waste Your Prayers

If you believe in an afterlife of heaven and hell

Why waste your prayers on the soul who did not live honourable and well

In an afterlife heaven their sort don't belong

The people who in their lifetime did to others wrong

Why waste your prayers on those who profit from crime

Since this in truth would be a complete waste of time

Leave them with satan for their sins to pay

They deserve to be in hell for their evermore stay

Why waste your prayers on one who bashed his partner or wife

And gave to his children a terrible life

Nothing about their sort that is honourable and brave

From satan's horror chamber prayers them will not save

Why waste your prayers on those who have lived by crime

This would seem only a great waste of time.

June In The Moyne Shire

On a weather temperature high for the day of seven degrees

The chill of Winter and June is in the evening breeze

The sun behind gray clouds is hidden away

It has only been seen for a brief while today

June in the Moyne Shire is a cool and wet time of year

Though each passing day brings the first of Spring near

To the coastal country of the Peek Wurrong

Post solstice the days in time grow slightly long

But the warbling of the birds who sing all through the year

The black and white magpies always a joy for to hear

Once seen and once heard one never again get them wrong

To the piping shrike family they does belong

In the gray of the evening in the sunless sky

The starlings in large flocks towards their roosting trees fly.

Generalization

That most men abuse their partners, wives and children is just not true

This is taking from good living men what is their due

On matters like this some people tend to generalize

People who believe all they read and hear are gullible and not wise

It is true that some men abuse their children and partners and wives

And give to those who should be near and dear to them miserable lives

But these sort of males are of the few

And this is not saying anything that is new

It is true not all women are good and not all men are bad

But that good men are the victims of generalizations is to say the least sad

For the sins of the few the many have to pay

In a fair Human World it would not be this way

In the Human World for generalization there should not be a place

But you will find it in nationality, religion, culture, gender and race.

It Is Something I Love Doing

Without hope of literary fame or money for pay

I am one of those people who write rhymes every day

But if i did not enjoy doing it in truth i can say

Years ago i would have given rhyming away

I have never referred to myself as a poet

Nor do i feel worthy of any literary note

Though i held some literary ambitions going back in time

When i was much younger in my physical prime

Every day more rhymes i happen to write

And email them on to a literary site

Going back in time to half of a century

I have penned thousands of rhymes since nineteen seventy three

It is something i love doing in truth i can say

For if i did not enjoy doing it i would have given it away.

In June By Clara Mountain

In Claramore wood in the dawning gray

The wildbirds of Nature are singing today

In the high fields by Clara around their grazing mothers black faced lambs romp and play

No joy like youthful joy does seem true to say

The songs of the finches so pleasant to hear

In June by Clara Mountain a nice time of year

The high fields looking resplendent in their beautiful flowers

That have come to bloom after recent Summer showers

Of singing Nature's praises it seems hard to tire

She is one that so many people admire

The artists and writers she never fails to inspire 

The creator of natural beauty and wind, water and fire

From the high fields by Clara such natural beauty to see 

Of Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra westward to Rathmore and Knocknagree

The artists and writers in their words celebrate

The natural beauty Nature does create

A natural beauty that sadly does lose out to time

In June by Clara Mountain close to Summer's prime

When the migratory dark winged swallows are chirping as they fly

In pursuit of flying insects in the Summer sky.

On Tom Hanks

Online i read of how Tom Hanks healthwise is going through a bad spell

That the wealthy and famous actor is not feeling well

In public his hands seen to be shaking if you believe what you read

Such stories of the wealthy and famous for media moguls to huge profits does lead

Tom Hanks is a celebrity of i only does know

But i cannot say of him that he has the inner glow

Since such a wondeerful and selfless gift only belong to the few

And this is not saying anything that is new

Tom Hanks is a good fellow it does seem this way

Of him anything negative i do not have to say

Though i am a cynical sort of a man

And of any celebrity i am not a fan

But having this said i hope Tom is feeling okay

That he soon will not be where the deceased are does lay.

In June In Duhallow

I may never more hear the soft lowing of a cow

To her calf in a field by white river Finnow

In the quiet of a June evening just after sundown

In the fading twilight just west of Millstreet Town

June in Duhallow in a nice time time of year 

The flute of the curlews a joy for to hear

The migratory long curved billed waders home from far away

To raise their young in the bog where they themselves first saw light of day

With the sun on their dark wings chirping as they fly

The swallows are chasing flying insects in the sky

To their home countryside they return to breed every Spring

The wonders of Nature quite an amazing thing

In June in Duhallow everywhere lush and green

And Nature at her very finest is seen.

It Lives In Your Mind

It lives in your mind like a memorable song

Wherever you go to your past with you goes along

The friends of your younger years you remember today

Old memories live on as some does like to say

Since your journey in life took you far from your first hometown

Many highways and byways you have been up and down

We all have our choices in life for to make

And we all have our own journeys to undertake

You have long shed the last of your nostalgic tears

For your friends of the past that you have not seen for years

Like you they have forged new friendships and life does go on

And all we have are memories of Seasons long gone

The past may have gone but the memories remain

Of faces and places you may not see again

And you remember them the friends of your younger years who like you have outlived their prime

Though you have not seen them for quite a long time.

The Power To Do Good

You will not see her or his name in the hall of fame

Even on their own side of the town theirs is not a well known name

Admirers and prizes they never do win

But they have the power to do good in them within

Always willing to help the financially down

Those doing it tough on their side of the town

By helping the people of helping in need

For their future good Karma they plant the good seed

Most of the famous and wealthy for kindness not known

Narcissism it seems has claimed them for it's own

You will never see them drive in a second hand car

On the ladder to success they have climbed far

Though many admire them as those who do win

The power to do good they does not have in them within.

The Old Fellow Dan

In the City of Warrnambool the happiest man

He greets strangers as friends the old fellow Dan

People who have known him for years says he has always been this way

As he greets everyone with a cheerful good day

In his early eighties a balding silver haired great grand-dad

One can say of him that he never looks sad

For sadness in his mind there is not any space 

He always does have a big smile on his face

He grieved at the passing of his wife Jo

She died of cancer going back eight years or so

Though great grief at her passing of for many months he did know

It did not kill in him his bright inner glow

Wherever old Dan is joy is  to be found

He carries it with him and shares it around.

The Boys Of The Fifties

The boys of the fifties are ageing by the day

Where the deceased are some of them does lay

And some in their first hometown choose for to stay

And some are growing old in towns and cities far away

From the parks where as teenagers ball games they did play

Of the what was only memories remain true to say

To the boys of the fifties time has become their foe

With only memories of their better years long ago

On looking back the years time seems to have gone fast

And memories are all that remain of the past

It is true about time it does tick on and on

At midnight this evening today will have gone

And just like the rhymer who writes a final rhyme

Eventually everyone runs out of time.

Money Speaks Every language

Money speaks every language as some like to say

And on your lifestyle has a huge part to play

And though the praises of money many may sing

It does mean a lot but it is not everything

And though those with lots of money have achieved great success

It cannot buy you life the greatest  gift any human being does possess

The billionaire like the pauper will eventually surrender to death

For everyone there is a last living breath

You are poor in many ways though you are one of the wealthy of the town

If you never do help the financially down

For the greatest wealth is in the mind

Of those who are caring and compassionate and kind

Money to you many good things may bring

And though it is quite important it is not everything.

It Is Each To Their Own

It is each to their own as some like to say

I add to my numbers of rhymes every day

Not for any literary fame or any money for pay

Just something i enjoy doing with me it is this way

I have never laid claim to the title of poet

Nor am i one worthy of any literary note

I must be addicted to the penning of rhyme

It is something i have been doing for quite a long time

The rhymes that come to me in notebook i write

And email them into a  literary site

Though no shortage of rhymers in any village or city or town

For very few in rhyme not any money or literary renown

But it is something i hope to be doing until the day i does die

If i did tell you differently it would be a lie.

When People Ask Me

When people ask where i come from i tell them Millstreet

In the green countryside where the waterways meet

And where old Clara Mountain as ever looks down

On Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra and Millstreet Town

Where i grew to love Nature as a young boy

And learning of her ways today i enjoy

In the home of marsupials and eucalypts and many species of birds not seen elsewhere

In a Land different to most Countries of the big World out there

It was my yearn for travel that brought me far south

Of the fields of the badger and waterways of the brown trout

The accent of Duhallow today i retain 

A thing from the past that in me does remain

It was my yearn for travel made a migrant of me

Suppose in life we do follow our destiny.

On Grudges

Your past has gone from you forever so why dwell on negative things of your past

Bitterness to your mental health harmful due to a grudge in your memory that does last

If you hate someone you suffer mentally from your loathing this is only saying what happens to be true

The person you hate does not mentally suffer the one who mentally suffers is you

A mental grudge can give rise to physical illness this is what the well informed say

The one who is harbouring grudges cannot bring joy to anyone's day

If you do not have any joy in you then joy is a thing you cannot share

This is only saying something i am sure that most people of are aware

For the negative things in our memory a physical price we may pay

Mental anger may give rise to mental illness health problems can begin on this way

Those who for years nurse their mental grudges can physically become quite ill

And some even break Moses Fifth Commandment which clearly states thou shalt not kill

Those who cannot forgive other people themselves also cannot forgive

There is only truth in the saying of the often quoted live and let live.

On Bird Brain

Is it telling you something that you already know

That she or he are not stupid your average crow

I have seen little ravens dip hard crusted bread in water to soften to eat

Of brain power for birds quite a remarkable feat

Just look at the nest that most birds do create

Using their beaks and feet as tools some of their achievements are great

Most species of birds are intelligent they can even use tools

For to get them their food birds are not fools

To a human being deemed lacking in intelligence many people refer to as bird brain

Why this is looked on as an insult is beyond me to explain

Since this should be seen as a compliment birds are quite intelligent indeed

And of survival skills they are not in need

The intillegence of birds i have come to realize

But anything in Nature never cease to surprise

Of those who refer to a person as bird brain derogatory words they use every day

Unbeknown to them are paying this person a compliment in truth one can say

You Keep On Keeping On

In life you are doing it financially tough

But you refuse to believe that you are not good enough

To be one who will never know of  success

Being dismissed as a failure does not cause you any stress

Though anyone your praises never does sing

You believe in itself this is not a bad thing

Since to be ignored does only add to your will to succeed

Of ambition you are one who is not in need

Of  your life's hard luck stories you never complain

To try and to fail it is never in vain

You are one of those who with hope does keep faith

As is said good things come to those who do wait

Hope for times better from you has not gone

With life every day you keep on keeping on.

Happiness May Not Be Your Due

If you are a billionaire happiness may not be your due

But it is better to be wealtly and unhappy than poor and unhappy happens to be true

Though that money speaks every language as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain

Money may not make you happy but it can make you financially secure

And of a better lifestyle for you does insure

But it is not your antidote against worry and stress

And is not your guarantee of a life of happiness

One of the happiest people i know of in the town

Is one who knows how it feels to be financially down

He is financially better off  than he used to be today

And he feels happy that lady luck is now smiling his way

Happiness is a thing one cannot buy or sell

You may not be one who is happy though you are doing financially well.

Through Long Years Of Absence

Through long years of absence my past is with me

In fancy the gray fog on Clara i see

Hiding the steel cross on it's summit that stand

By old memories the flames of nostalgia are fanned

Like many of my sort a migrant is the best i can hope to be

And of good or bad memories few of us are free

We brought them with us from a land far away

And they will be with us until our lives final day

Memories of where i grew to love Nature as a young boy

And learning of her ways today i enjoy

Her lessons to us are not of the few

And every day of her we learn something new

To the green countryside where the waterways meet

On my flights of fancy i return to Millstreet.

No Better Than

Are us humans no better than any of Nature's creatures since we create borders to defend

And the enemy of your enemy can become your friend

In wars over borders millions of people have died 

And millions left with lifetime crippling injuries their dreams of happiness destroyed

Yet life is the greatest gift anyone does possess

Far greater than any other form of success

Yet in war human life is taken cheaply where people wish on each other ill

And Moses fifth commandment states thou shalt not kill

War has taken place in Countries Worldwide the latest is in Ukraine

Where the super power Russia are inflicting on it's people suffering, death and pain

On either side thousands of people have died

And millions of Ukranians for refuge have fled to Countries Worldwide

That in many ways we are no different to Nature's creatures only true to say

Since wars are being waged over borders in the World every day.

Do Not Take Yourself Too Seriously

Do not take yourself too seriously

You are expendable though you do not believe so

Many who thought that they were irreplaceable

The World gets on without them though they died years ago

Wealthy and World known famous people 

We read and hear of their deaths every day

Though they are grieved by their fans and admirers 

Life goes on without them true to say

Famous entertainers and elite sports people

With fans and admirers Worldwide

Death will not treat them as special

Far greater than they are have died

Do not take yourself too seriously

Since you are only a mortal after all

Those in life who climb the highest 

Have the furthest for to fall.

A Brave Man

Physically he is not the man that he used to be

Since a motor car accident in two thousand and three

Left him h horrific injuries which he did survive

He says he feels happy just to be alive

Going back in time a nineteen year span

Dark haired and handsome a fit and healthy young man

In his early twenties near the prime of his life

The woman he loved and was to marry did not become his wife

It is true about life on some it is not always fair

Post his accident that left him in a wheelchair

His to be wife with him did not stay

Some loves do not last the first big test life works on this way

In his battery operated wheelchair in the park or on the street

He is one that i happen to meet

He always does greet me with a cheerful good day

Despite misfortune one who is not angry with life of him one can say

In his early forties he lives on his own

And though of bad luck in love and life he is one who has known

The challenges of life he willingly embrace

With a positive attitude and a smile on his face.

On Learning Of Nature

On learning of Nature one comes to realize

That of her we know little this not a surprise

But those open to learning of her learn something new every day

In life we never stop learning in truth one can say

Of the praises of Nature her admirers do sing

But the very thought is a sobering thing

That the future to Mother Earth change for the better may not bring

As we may be quite near to the first silent Spring

To many species of wildlife extinction is near

Songbirds getting rarer with each passing year

Many species of animals, amphibians, lizards, insects and fish getting rare

Extiction seem close the siberian tiger, the koala and the polar bear

The first silent Spring in time may not be far away

And this is a sad thing for to have to say

Wildlife is losing out due to human greed

And of more human friends the Earth is in need.

By Stingray Bay

A Sunday evening in June by Stingray Bay

On what is a chilly and Wintery day

The sun it is hidden behind clouds of gray

Though weatherwise dry quite Seasonal of it one can say

On the kelp and seaweed on the beach starlings and silver gulls eating sea lice washed in by the tide

Though some of the insects from the probing beaks find places to hide

Lots of food for coastal birds where the land and sea meet

Just three minutes by car from Banyan Street

On the concrete path by the foreshore people cycle and run and jog

And some walk in pairs or in groups or walk alone with their dog

Whilst some sit in their cars enjoying the sea view

Of Nature every day one does learn something new

Nobody out fishing on a chilly Winter's day

Some have their boats moored on the deep waters of Stingray Bay.

A Positive Fellow

One of the working poor and his life in a financial mess

And from the rising cost of living he is under stress

With a house rent to pay and to support a wife and young family

Though working hard for an income he knows of poverty

He has always worked hard for a living and has never been on welfare

Sad to think he is one of many his sort in the world are not rare

Some people work hard for a living without knowing of financial success

And sad to think they are the people that many does never impress

The director of the company he works for is a known multi billionaire

Many grow poorer for a few to grow wealthy this is something everyone of are aware

Though he is one of the working poor of hope for the better he is not in despair

He is one you does not hear say that life is quite unfair

He works hard to support his wife and children on what is poor take home pay

But he is a positive fellow and believes good times for him are not far away.

One Of The Unsung

Of biological children she does have none

And too old now to give birth to a daughter or son

In her late fifties her shoulder length hair is silver gray

Still quite attractive for her years of her one can say

And compassionate and kind in her own caring way

She performs a good deed or more every day

A former volunteer nurse she has worked in third World Countries overseas

In camps nursing the sick and dying refugees

A friend of the forgotten, dispossessed and downtrod

The people  who belong to the lesser god

Of the needs of the less privileged one who is aware

Quite a selfless person and her sort are rare

One of the unsung but a great person indeed

Of good Karma every day she sows the seed.

Money Is Useful

Money is useful why otherwise pretend

And the one with plenty of it never short of a friend

But on the success ladder those who have climbed far

Are the people who do not know who their friends are

But the people who live on the poor side of the town

Who know how it feels like to be financially down

Know who their friends are as they ought to indeed

Those who stand by them on their times of need

Though the friends of the wealthy in numbers does grow

Of who their true friends are they only will know

If some bad business deal puts them in poverty

That they will lose most of  their friends comes with a guarantee

It is not saying anything in any way that is new

That true friends one can say are of the few.

Goodbye To The People

Goodbye to the people you may never more see

They are part of what was for you of what used to be

The good and bad memories are all you retain

Of people that you may never meet again

From your hometown your journey in life took you to elsewhere

For to make a new life in the big World out there

In your first hometown from here far away

To many you may be a stranger today

Your friends of the past today you may not recognize

As ageing changes faces one comes to realize

Like you they have forged new friendships and in life have moved on

And like you only retain the memories of days now long gone

Goodbye to the people you have not seen for years

For the what used to be you have shed your last tears.

Your Place Of Residence

Your place of residence in life can be detrimental to your chances of  success

Job seekers from the poor suburbs many employers fail to impress

Those born into poverty of success stand little chance

Due to their huge handicap of birth circumstance

For being born to poor parents the price huge to pay

And so many poor people in the Human World of today

Those from the tough streets who know of wealth and fame to say the leasr few

And this is not saying anything that is new

Most people born to poor parents in life struggle to cope

And of a better futuire can only live in hope

Sad to think that people's place of residence against them does tell

Though they feel ambitious in life for to do well

Your circumstance of birth in your future can have a big say

This is how it always was and how it is in the World of today.

On Politicians

Of the praises of politicians many does sing

Since truthfulness in most of them is not their thing

The majority are in politics for their own gain

Their actions alone their hidden thoughts does explain

It is not saying anything in any way that is new

That the honest politicians are of the few

Most honest people quickly come to realize that a career in politics for them is all wrong

That in a career of deceitful mind games they do not belong

Though known as honourable members of parliament honour most of them does not portray

For most of them the truth is the hardest thing to say

Even some of them their own lies appear to believe

It can be said of them they know how to deceive

The praises of themselves and their political parties they do love to sing

With most politicians self promotion is surely their thing.

On The Tragic Death Of Gillian Daly

A daughter to John Joe and Helen and a niece to Anna May

In Liscahane Millstreet Town Gillian Daly lived for many a day

She died tragically when her car in Kennedy Quay

In Cork City went into the River Lee

Her two young sons in the car with her swam to safety but sadly Gillian died

That life can have it's heavy crosses cannot be denied

A beautiful person on her forty fourth year of life

A huge loss in her role as a mother and wife

News of the passing did travel Worldwide

Of the woman from Douglas in Cork born and raised in Millstreet in Duhallow's green countryside

A beautiful life accidentally by death in her forties from her snatched away

Perhaps her tragic ending was was her life's destiny in truth one can say

A well loved young woman attractive to behold

Gillian was one not destined to grow old

Her parting from life for her a sudden release

The beautiful Gillian in St Eltin's Cemetry in Kinsale rests in peace.

Where I Was Born And Raised

Where i was born and raised from here far away

I would be a stranger to many today

Some i went to school with are where the deceased does lay

And some like me in Duhallow did not stay

But the memories remain to me as a source of joy

Of where i grew to love Nature as a young boy

The old rushy fields near the Town of  Millstreet

In the green countryside where the waterways meet

That inspired me to rhyme many decades ago

Long before time it did become my foe

And only the memories with me does remain

Of beauty i may never look on again

Where old Clara Mountain as ever looks down

On green Claraghatlea west of Millstreet Town.