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Open Poetry #42
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The Brumby King
| Open Poetry #42 |
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The Brumby King |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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THE BRUMBY KING In a far off hidden valley Where two icy rivers meet, Where the mountains bounce the echo’s Of a hundred brumby’s feet. Where the bellbird gives a warning To all intruders there, It was this place I heard about That I’d like with you to share. It was told to me by Barcoo Bill, A shearer we all knew, He looked me squarely in the eye And swore every word was true. He’d been shearing out round Jindabyne In the spring of thirty eight, And when the final shed cut out He said goodbye to all his mates. To see his girl who waited home , He didn’t need an extra push, So to save some time from Jindabyne He took a short cut through the bush. He made his way across that rugged range Through hidden valleys seldom seen, He steered his horse on a wandering course Where few white men had ever been. He camped at night ‘neath the bright starlight In mountain meadows lush with grass, And throughout the day he held his way Towards a distant mountain pass. As he headed west he thought it best To escape the midday sun, So he moved up on the mountain side Where he crossed a brumby’s run. Fresh were the tracks that he saw there Of wild horses roaming free, So he laid up in a patch of scrub Where he hoped the brumby mob to see. He waited there for an hour or two Then his old horse pricked up his ears, He looked up on the mountain side Just as the wild brumby mob appears. There were fifty mares or more With foals running at their side, There were blacks and bays and dapple greys And many more beside. “ I wonder where the stallion is,” Bill voiced his thoughts anew, And even as he spoke aloud The black stallion came in view. There stood the mighty brumby king With shiny coat as black as coal, Whose only purpose and ambition was, To put every brumby mare in foal. Then in the distance a piercing scream, Another stallion’s mating call, The mares closed up their straggling ranks In case danger should befall. Then across the rough and broken ground A chestnut stallion could be seen, As he galloped up to join the mob, The black stallion cut between. The chestnut colt was big and strong And seemed unaware of dangers fraught, While the old black horse was a cagey foe, For many battles he had fought. They met up on the mountain side, A truly stirring sight, They fought with teeth and flailing feet As only stallions fight. Bill had never seen a fight between Two more vicious savage brutes, He moved in to take a closer look, While all the mares and foals stood mute. The big chestnut horse was savage now And quicker than the black, Through sheer force without remorse, He forced the old horse back. The old black horse quickly spun away And galloped further up the hill, Where he turned to face the chestnut’s charge And the battle raged once more until He turned again and galloped up Till he was high up on the ledge, And in retreat lured the chesnut on Until he was close up to the edge. Then he dived beneath those flailing feet With a scream of sheer rage, And heaved the chesnut into space Like two actors on the stage. As the chesnut stallion flashed from view, Bill stood mute with bated breath, For it seemed a shame that one so game Should finish there in death. Bill climbed up on that rocky ledge And looking down could only stare, For on those jagged rocks below Three other colts lay there. |
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| © Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Seoulair Senior Member
since 2008-03-27
Posts 807Seoul S.Korea |
my, I read like a novel. Soooo very good. A marvelous story and you rhymed so well. Thank you for sharing. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
This is great story telling, kept me on the edge of my seat. I believe I read this one before. Is this a repost? Ida |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
You really do have a way with these Linds, good job mate....John |
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gilead Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067nevada, USA |
Great writing with a ballad like feel. I enjoyed every line as the rhyme and the story worked perfectly together. Art |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Seoulair, I'm so glad that you enjoyed the tale, thank you. Ida, I didn't think I had posted this one before but I should have checked, and when I did, I found that you were right. Sorry about that but thanks for your response. John, thanks old mate, your response is always appreciated. Art, thank you so much for your response I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Lindsay |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
A great story that was very enjoyable. |
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