Where Mine Many Years Ago Poem by Francis Duggan

Where mine many years ago was a known face
And as a boy and young man it was my favourite place
But from there i have been by far too long away
And to many in Claraghatlea i would be a stranger today

Above the rushy fields west of the Town of Millstreet
Where the rivers from Kippagh and Gneeves do meet
The dark barn swallows do chirp as they fly
In pursuit of flying insects across the gray sky

Where i grew to love Nature when i was a boy
Her sights and sounds remain to me as a source of joy
And from Nature we learn something new every day
We never stop learning as some lke to say

I have not seen Claraghatlea for some twenty six years
And for there i no longer shed nostalgic tears
The memories of what was i only retain
Though often in fancy i walk in the old fields again

The migrant Athenian loves Athens and the migrant Roman loves Rome
And i love Claraghatlea it was my first home
But even the memories are fading of what used to be
At least anyhow that's how it feels to me.