I have not seen leaves turn brown,
Fine mist above a country town
And morning frost on the ground
Flakes of snow, falling all around

I do not heard Angelus bells ring
In autumn, as daylight takes wing
And as October’s sun’s rays die
In the twilight, chirping birds fly

The sounds that some hold so dear
Drums and brass in the air so clear
Souza tunes and a marching band
Alas not for me, not where I stand

I cannot doze on the village green
As mid-summer’s sun casts its sheen
On grassy hills and the dales between
To afternoon breeze, trees gently lean

No lazy river fishing for golden trout
Casting my line where they swim about
Being sure of a catch - without a doubt
And ending the day with a glass of stout

No neighborly chats on summer nights
A daily part of someone else’s delights
I don’t sit in the cool as the kids play
In my neon world it’s a never ending day

Dolan Fernandes
2008