Gareth From Swansea Poem by Francis Duggan

When last he saw the coastlands south of Swansea
The gulls were calling above the sea shore
And freshening winds and rain was lightly falling
On that August morning back in sixty four.

He still has got that accent he brought with him
From his green Country all those miles away
And though he left his Homeland as a young man
His native dialect with him seemed to stay.

He has become a naturalized Australian
And his eldest son is now beyond his prime
And I've been told that only last week Gareth
Became a grand dad for the second time.

It's been more than thirty years since he has been back
To his old home by the Atlantic sea
And to those who ask him do you miss your Homeland?
He say why should I what's back there for me.

He will tell you for a few years he felt homesick
But through such stages many migrants go
And now he feels his soul is in Australia
And Aussies are the only friends he know.

His hair is gray he's in his early sixties
And the accent he brought with him with him stay
And he will end his days in Monbulk in Victoria
From south of Swansea all those miles away