One Of Ireland's Great Poets

His mum and dad in him did raise a good son

Francis Ledwidge who died in World War One

Far from his home in Slane under a foreign sky

As The Poet Of The Blackbird he was known by

A victim of war in his physical prime

In the early twentieth century for humanity a tragic time

In the heat of battle in Ypres he fell

Of war never many good stories to tell

One whose name lives as one worthy of note

The Bard of Slane was a marvellous poet

In his poetic prime he died quite young

With perhaps his greatest poems unwritten to be sung

A sad day for Ireland Lord Dunsany did say

When he heard Ledwidge had died in a war far away

With words he was one who did love to play

And his originality lives in his published poems today

News of his death left his family and friends in tears

Francis Ledwidge has been dead for more than a century of years

To lovers opf poetry his poems he did bequeath

One of Ireland's great poets from Slane in County Meath.

In The Green Countryside Far Away

In the leafy groves in the green countryside far away

The wildborn nesting birds are singing today

And the fields lush and green resplendent in their Nature's flowers

That have come to bloom in recent April showers

The dark brown water birds of breasts white as snow

The dippers are singing where river rapids flow

Distinctive in their metallic type song

By the waterways born and to the waterways they belong

On the high fields by the hills young lambs romp and play

On their mothers noursishing milk they grow stronger by the day

On far away fields when Summer is near

Spring is a beautiful time of the year

Above their home fields in the gray morning sky

The dark migratory swallows chirp as they does fly

On pursuit of flying insects home again to breed

In late Fall to migrate for their survival in them their natural need.

In the countryside far away in the prime of the Spring

In the leafy groves the nesting birds whistle and sing

The old fields are looking resplendent and green

And Nature at her very finest is seen.

Some People Never Learn

Time that brings change with it ticks along fast

But some people never learn from wars of the past 

This is what happens when egotistical leaders their privileges does abuse

And in the worst way their power do use

They do not realize for a war to be won

That many a mother must grieve for her dead son

Of their humanity their out of control ego does get in the way

Because of their loss of reason many good people with their lives does pay

When egotistical people win power on those who oppose them they impose their will

And their police and army without question obey their orders to kill

And when to the egotistical leaders power goes to their head

The families of their victims do grieve for their dead

To those who oppose them death and suffering they only does bring

But sadly so many their praises does sing.

Stress On The Human Mind

Stress on the human mind does take it's toll

But why worry about things beyond your control

Since worry is the source for mental stress

And only does give rise to unhappiness

Many stressed people live in every town

Feeling unhappy and mentally down

Sometimes small worries into big worries grow

Of people who worry few of wish to know

Carefree people make new friends every day

Since about them they do have a likeable way

Wherever they are joy is to be found

Since they carry it with them and share it around

They are the people others of wish to know

As they have in them the bright inner glow

Bound By Territory

You may look on all birds as the wild and free

But many species of them are bound by territory

Into their neighbours territory they never do stray

In their home territory their life time they does stay

Their songs and their calls is a threat display

To their neighbours from their territory to keep away

Due to destruction by humans of their natural habitat many species of territorial birds are becoming rare

Of which all of Nature lovers have become aware

Those who remove trees for land development to territorial birds a foe

They leave them open to predation and with nowhere to go

To the laws of Nature they does adhere

And of  their neigbours territory choose to stay clear

Though many look on them as the wild and free

Territorial birds are bound by territory.

A Similar Seed

All of us humans do come from a similar seed 

And Worldwide different races with each other do breed

That death makes us all equal is a truism indeed

And red is the blood we all shed when we bleed

No matter your skin colour black, white or brown

You are never an asset to your side of the town

If in your words or deeds you drag others down

You are one who is even unworthy of local renown

One can only admire those who practice and believe

In the wonderful gift of giving to receive

The best of people never among the admired

And to be of the famous have never desired

Whoever you are by your actions you can be an asset or a disgrace

To your nationality and to your race.

As Is Said Of Success

Success to each individual can be a relative thing

Though the praises of the wealthy and famous many do sing

Even many similar in thinking on what constitutes success disagree

It is how you look at it is how it seems to be

Many judge you favourably on the size of your home or your car

To them your worldly possessions show of how successful you are

Whilst others judge you favourably for the kindness and compassion to others you display

Each to their own thinking on this one can say

Among the wealthy and admired the humble are few

And this is not saying anything that is new

It was a wise person the one who first said

That praise is a thing that can go to one's head

Though the wealthy and famous many admire

And just to be like them in life their desire

Not everybody their praises does sing

As is said of success it can be a relative thing.