In the old rushy fields close to Millstreet Town <br />The Finnow bank high in flood waters of brown <br />And in the cold chill of a November dawn <br />The salmon are swimming up river to spawn <br /> <br />In the home of the rook and jackdaw and gray crow <br />The migrant redwing thrushes chirping on the windswept hedgerow <br />And the freshening wind soughing in the leafless trees <br />On a cold enough morning of zero degrees. <br /> <br />At least four long months till the first breath of Spring <br />Till the trees begin to sprout new leaves and the nesting birds sing <br />In the farm yard in the galvanize shed <br />The cattle are bellowing for to be fed. <br /> <br />So different to the November I knew in a Land far away <br />Where I live 'tis warm quite warm today <br />The sun glowing in the blue sky and warmth in the breeze <br />And the birds chirp and sing on the bushes and trees. <br /> <br />Memories of distant Novembers with me do remain <br />When flood waters are gurgling in the roadside drain <br />In weather that does seem cold enough for to snow <br />Where the Finnow bank high to the Blackwater flow.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/memories-of-distant-novembers/
