Ballydaly in Early February

A cold start to another cold Winter’s day
From the overnight frost the old fields looking gray
A cold wind is blowing from Caherbarnagh Hill
And the Cails bank high from Kippagh flows with a will
To join with Finnow In flood waters of brown
In Claraghatlea a mile from Millstreet Town
As a result of yesterday’s heavy rain
Flood waters are babbling in the roadside drain
And hungry redwings chirping on the leafless trees
In temperatures of minus one degrees
In the farmyard in galvanize cattle shed
The hungry cows and bullocks bellow to be fed
And February is blowing out a cold chill
In the harsh wind from Caherbarnagh Hill.

from Francis Duggan