Joe’s Dog by Tony Fallon© 10/5/2016

Joe’s Dog by Tony Fallon© 10/5/2016 

When I was growing up in the country I had no hunting knife
In my time in Ireland there wasn’t very much wildlife
If you wanted to see something other than a cow or ewe
You’d have to go to Dublin and visit their famous zoo
Of course, there were fish in the river and you’d also see a frog.
Our neighbor had a half-breed cur, but someone shot that dog.

We had an odd badger and weasel which some people called a stoat

There were some hedgehogs and many a donkey and many a goat

Some people kept a couple of hounds to go out coursing the hare.
There were no deer in our parish and there definitely wasn’t a bear
The major topic of conversation that year in the Dugragh bog
Was who had in for Joe Murphy and went out and shot his dog?

We did have foxes visit at night to rouse the hens was their habit
With spuds there was nothing tastier than a leg of roasted rabbit
Farmers were known to hate dogs that often worried their sheep.
Maybe that’s how the dog met his maker when we were all asleep
Not many went out shooting that night there was a real heavy fog
Maybe someone thought it was a fox and shot the poor old dog.

Most of the farmers had shotguns and often shot ducks in the lake
My mother lost ten when someone shot nine ducks and her drake

Not too many had rifles because a license cost about ten pound

And because of the north they checked everyone’s background
I have a secret to tell and I won’t put it on Face book or my blog

He had a lamb’s leg in his mouth when I shot Joe Murphy’s dog

Clichés © TonyFallon100618

Clichés © TonyFallon100618

If the early bird catches the early worm
And the second mouse eats all the cheese
Then why do I catch the germ
And wind up with somebody else’s disease?


Seek and ye shall find 
At the mission there is free food
And fulfillment when you have dined
And your faith in humanity renewed

The best things in life are not free
Most times you need some Euros
Otherwise I can guarantee
You'll go home without a red rose

They say the more the merrier
Yet three is considered a crowd
Maybe they are talking about Perrier
For four adults in a bed is not allowed

You had to bring up Bob and Carol and Ted
Did you forget all about Alice?
The four of them were in the same bed
In a hotel room one night in Dallas.

If you don't judge a book by its cover
Because you're in the wrong frame of mind
Then one day you could easily discover
You missed the next Gone with the Wind

Some say the bigger the better
Others prefer small packs
Teenage girls want a tight sweater
And sailors look good in loose slacks

Autumn Days © TonyFallon100518

Autumn Days © TonyFallon100518

The Autumn days are sure getting shorter
In the sky there's a sliver of a moon
It has gone from new moon to first quarter
A precise likeness reflects in the lagoon

I fondly remember nights just like this
Many long years ago here in County Clare
They sure were evenings of romance and bliss
We were young then without worry or care

We might be leading each other astray
But I admit I was badly smitten
Even though I was heading for the USA
And you would soon be heading to Britain

So we both put on our travelling shoes
And in a year came back on vacation
We both admitted to having the blues
And neither could stand the separation

My brother didn't want the land or cattle
He still is a great believer in space
He had a scholarship out in Seattle
And you and I wound up with the home place

I'm sure we missed excitement and tension
And with five healthy children we are blessed
And daily they got our full attention
So nobody here feels alone or depressed

The Shy One© Tony Fallon 100416.

The Shy One© Tony Fallon  100416.

Whenever you are with me I am never shy,
You are now my bright ray of sunshine in the sky
When you are with me there are no threatening clouds
And I do not worry at all about being in crowds
Before I met you I had no confidence to sing
Now I sing with a guitar that has only one string
I sing nightly with a small band with confidence and poise
Next week we have a big booking out in Illinois
I never was a person for the Rock and roll scene.
Until I met up with you my sweet Irish colleen
You do not whine or complain when there is ice and snow
You wouldn't grumble when the temperature is ten below
You always seem to act so reliable and mature
You never do anything to make me insecure
You are my foundation you are my substantial rock
You never complain about anything you never squawk.
When the weather is wet and damp you do not complain
You said you have never tried LSD or cocaine
I think most people I know would readily agree
That I have found a person that's far better than me.
All of your other excellent traits I didn't acclaim
You are so bashful I cannot even use your name

The Galway sand 061218 © Tony Fallon

The Galway sand 061218  © Tony Fallon

I saw you first in Galway sitting there in the Salthill sand
When I was on a short vacation in the west of Ireland
Your boyfriend looked like a boxer I was intimidated
For him to go into the water I patiently waited 
To leave without at least meeting you I was not inclined
Because if I didn't meet you I would surely lose my mind
I could not think properly my racing brain was so confused 
I would have to ask you for a date even if you refused
This had to be pure utter madness true love at the first sight
But that big strong bruiser with you I did not want to fight
Everybody was admiring you thank God I was not blind
I knew at that fateful moment you were one of a kind

He never went in to the water so I left depressed
I went back to my hotel room had a shower and got dressed
I finally got my friends together and headed for a bar
We meant to drink plenty of porter so I did not take the car
When we sat down at the corner table I saw you once again
Standing at the bar surrounded by six or seven young men
There was no mister muscle there now so at least I could dream
And I noticed your drink looked a bit like Baileys Irish Crème
I told the waiter to slyly go refill your Baileys Irish glass
Now you would be wondering who was the secret man with class
I surmised my mysterious offer would not be declined
By now I was totally convinced you were one of a kind.

When you went to the powder room I cut you off at the pass
And I told you I though you were a very pretty Irish lass
I thought it was so romantic the bashful way that you blushed
If you had rejected me there I would have been badly crushed
I asked you humbly if you were single married or engaged
Or would the boxing man be jealous or worse still be enraged?
Then you started laughing loudly and you laughed like no other
You said the boxer there today was your one and only brother
Already he had gone back to Dublin to train for his next fight
Then when I asked for a date you agreed to my great delight
I learned so much about your family that evening when we dined
I think God must have sent me to Galway for my one of a kind

I found out you were coming to New York classified as J one
And that you were an athlete from Carlow who could really run 
Later it was off to Villanova to run as a sprinter
Running all over the East coast in the months of fall and winter
I told you I was close to Villanova I could see their dome
And I would be in the stands cheering when ever you ran at home
You said we could only be friends as this was a life changing chance
A scholarship at Villanova so there could be no romance
By now I was willing to wait for you and I quickly agreed
And I cheered so often in those stands at your amazing speed
The years have gone by quickly since the day you quietly resigned
I think our daughter nicknamed Gazelle is also one of a kind

The Wedding Tony Fallon100418.

The Wedding Tony Fallon100418.

I'm planning a wedding and you are invited
After my single years people are excited
The date is set for October twenty eighth
And I will be married in the Catholic faith
You know that is only days from All Saints Feast
And to marry us I have engaged a priest
I know the invitation is a wee bit late
You perhaps have something else planned for that date
If you don't come I will be very annoyed
And our friendship forever will be destroyed
You know for more money I have no earthly needs 
And I am not worried about the proceeds
The reception that day will be rater small
And will not be staged in the local dance hall
The reception is to be in the pub in Leeds
You can come dressed either casual or in tweeds
On a gift I don't want you unduly spending
Your perfect gift to me will be you attending
There is something important lacking in my plans
You'll notice there's been no reading of the banns
In fact the plans that day could all go astray
I have not yet picked out the woman of the day
That's why I want you or some friend to provide
A pretty single woman who can be my bride

If Only © Tony Fallon100118

If Only © Tony Fallon100118

If only we had never met  would I now be alone

Or in this whole wide crazy world was there another soul?
Who could have taken me into her heart and made me whole?
And nurtured the seeds of love until they were fully grown

That is what you did to this lonely wandering creature
You stayed with me through thick and thin my problems you discussed
You built up my self confidence and taught me how to trust
You were my guide my mentor and most of all my teacher

For us souls to meet the day we met must have been God's plan
It sure changed our simple lives and changed our destinations
Our children are our legacy for the generations
A family who loves open roads in our hippy van