Farewell Poem by Francis Duggan

Farewell to all of my old friends who live far north of here
And farewell to the old Townland and the places I love dear
And to the woods and old fields where I discovered rhyme
But the boys I went to school with now have offsprings in their prime.

Farewell to the old river from here it does seem far
Where as boys we tried to capture minnows with a string tied to jam jar
And the past is gone forever and boys always don't stay boys
But we still have the memories and we can visualize.

Farewell to the old Parish where mine was a known face
And to the old rank hedgerows around the old Homeplace
Where robin sang in Springtime and dunnock built her nest
Near where cow sat amongst the lush grass and whilst chewing her cud did rest.

Farewell to the old grey slated house and in fancy I still see
The box hedge in the garden and the old cypress tree
Where wood pigeon built her nest of sticks and raised her family
And though the past is gone forever the memories remain with me

Of the places of my boyhood years far north and far away
But as Longfellow the great poet said it is not always May
And time is catching up on me and the years have left me gray
And those I went to school with the grand parents of today.