Where Mine Many Years Ago

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.