Mid Autumn On The Cork And Kerry Border

From the small green fields of Inches near the old Town of Rathmore
The barn swallows have departed for the north African shore
And the oak so green in summer changing colour looking brown
And with every gust of wind that blows some of her leaves drift down

To Mother earth who receives them, Earth will take back life she give
Every thing that grows and breathes air has a certain span to live
And the oak so green in summer by december will be bare
She will stand her branches exposed in the frosty winter air

On the Cork and Kerry border dunnock silent in hedgerow
And the temperatures are dropping and the weather glass is low
And flood waters spill onto the fields from flooded dykes and drains
And the river bank high flowing swelled by recent heavy rains.

And o'er field and valley and o'er many a country town
To the Cork and Kerry border Redwing thrushes journey down
From their breeding grounds in cold north countries they travel far each year
To winter in the southlands in climates less severe.

On the Cork and Kerry border this morning the fields look gray
And colder days of winter can't be too far away
And in the windswept hedgerows the birds refuse to sing
And five long months or even more before first signs of spring.

From the Cork and Kerry border near the old Town of Rathmore
The swallows have departed for the North African shore
And in Rathduane and Inches cows are bellowing for hay
And the redwings from the northlands to the southlands wing their way.