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Open Poetry #42
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A Bygone Era
| Open Poetry #42 |
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A Bygone Era |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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The Bullock Team Old Dingo Dan was a giant of a man, He’d been driving bullock teams for years, Bullocks were his life o’er a fifty-year span And his reliability was never once in arrears. The wool was now ready at the station wool-shed When Dan arrived with his big bullock team, With the country in drought and many stock dead, The thought of green grass was now only a dream. It was sixty odd miles to the nearest rail-link And it was usual to take the hard river road, The shorter desert track made Dan stop and think, Yes, he could arrive a day ahead with his load. Only one worry that the big man might entail Was a water hole at the half distant mark, He said to himself, with my team I can’t fail, I’ll be able to give them a drink ‘fore it’s dark. Drought was the cause of water holes running dry, Most were sucked dry by the sun’s furnace breath, Nothing could survive ‘neath that scorching hot sky For without water the answer was death. The first evening out they arrived at their camp Where there was plenty to drink for them all, An early morning start while the air was still damp And man and bullocks faced a weary days haul. Tightening their chains with a slow measured tread After the nights drink, a feed and a spell, The sun burning bright, they faced the long pull ahead As they started out on that pathway to hell. The day it grew hotter but the team kept its pace, It was soon one hundred and ten in the shade, After a two- hour stop at a quiet shady place It was then the second stage starting was made. Dan thought of the water at the next evenings prop, He said tonight they’ll be chewing their cud But at last on reaching the next evenings stop, All that Dingo Dan could see was the mud. Dan realized now that his judgment was at fault And wondered what he could do for the best, He knew there’d be water at the next evenings halt But before then lay the sandy hill’s crest. Dan now unyoked his much-wearied team, The bullocks were all bawling out for a drink, A spell would be the best move it would seem Until the evening stars all came out to blink. The next morning found them all pulling still And then at midday he gave them a spell, They’d moaned a complaint at the last sandy hill And shortly after the first bullock fell. Burnt dry with the sun and tortured by thirst, The bullocks efforts were now almost in vain, Dan knew their strength would have to be nursed Before any chance of them moving again. Unyoking the bullocks, he tied them in the shade, A real relief from the burning blue sky, Dan went to the water bag a last drink to be made But in the searing heat the bag was now dry. As he lay in the shade his thoughts wandered back And he silently cursed himself for a fool, He should have taken the hard river track, A sure supply of water was the one golden rule. The sun was now sinking quite low in the west When he inspanned for that last final pull, He spoke to the leaders and then to the rest And said with God’s help we’ll deliver the wool. To Dan, thoughts of failure surely must stop, The team pulled as one as they tightened the chain, A hundred yards now and they’d be over the top, Dan hoped their efforts would not be in vain. Slowly, ever slowly, the hill top to greet Ever slowly did those wagon wheels turn, The sand giving way ‘neath the team’s straining feet, Oh, for the hard river track did Dingo Dan yearn. The oxen all pulled with little strength left in store While all were tortured with a terrible thirst And Dan prayed aloud to God as he swore, And he cracked that great whip as he cursed. Then slowly ever slowly as the daylight grew dim The load of wool was pulled over the top, Dan called a halt to his staunch bullock team, He reckoned they deserved a ten minute stop. Two mile now to go to a sure water hole, The bullocks trudged on to the oncoming night, Dan’s prayer was answered, now in sight of his goal, His worries now fading with the fast fading light. |
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| © Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Enjoyed this interesting picture of the past, LP. Austrailia owes you a debt of gratitude for showing the rest of the world your country with your words. Nice to have a picture to go with the poet. Ida |
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LadyTom Member
since 2008-02-29
Posts 353LA, CA |
oh, finally, they got water great poem. Somehow the only novel/TV serious I read about Australia The ThornBird came into mind. And in a tour from Adelaide to Ayer's Rock I indeed saw the Australia desert. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Enjoyed this interesting write...James |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
LindsayP, This is excellent work. I've worked in Australia--I've seen it burn. Bobby |
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violet-dark New Member
since 2008-03-05
Posts 6chile,santiago in south america |
awsome and awsome write australia is golden |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
LP ~ You finally posted your photo! I told you that this one from your book cover would be perfect! Now everyone can see what a handsome Aussie man that ye be! While I was reading your vividly descriptive poem, I actually felt as though I was actively taking part of that bygone era! Terrific tale ~ well told! Love to you, Aussie Man! Linda  |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
To all you wonderful friends Ida, you always say the nicest things and I'm glad you approved of my photo, thanks and thanks again and a big hug. Lady Tom, welome to PIP, you will love it here. I'm glad that you have been to Australia and seen the vast outback. Thank you for the response. James, You are one good friend I can count upon. A sincere thanks to you my friend and have a great day. Bobby, you would appreciate, perhaps more than most, seeing that you have worked here what that harsh outback can be like. I appreciate your response. Violet Dark, I have always wanted a friend in Chile and now I have one. Welcome to PIP dear lady and enjoy your participation. Linda, Last but certainly not least, you too always say the nicest things, I think it comes as second nature to you, for I'm sure that all our participants will echo my sentiments. Love to you my sweet Canadian Rose and thanks for the plug. Lindsay |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Lindsay, How did I miss this? I have been looking forward to another one from you & you did it again, I am not disappointed, but then I never am, I so love your writing...the picture is not too tacky either! Thanks for posting John |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Thanks John, glad you liked it. Have a great day my friend. Lindsay |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I have heard that a lot of Australia is made up of desert. It must have been difficult for the men of that age. An interesting work as always. |
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