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The Brumby King
| Open Poetry #41 |
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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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Brumby is a name given to the progeny of station hacks and other horses that have escaped into the bush and forests of Australia, where they propergate and breed. There are thousands of brumbys in Australia today. 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 chestnut on Till he was close up to the edge. Then he dived beneath those flailing feet With a scream of sheer rage, And heaved the chestnut into space Like two actors on the stage. As the chestnut 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 2007 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Seeker72 Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 387Oregon USA |
That was damn good. It was very reminiscent of Banjo Paterson in style. I loved it. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
..."and another one bites the dust" ~ Sorry about that, but those lyrics popped into my head as I read your closing lines. LP, this was outstanding! Such high drama! A very compelling read! Have you ever entertained the idea of compiling all your Aussie poems into a book? I can see it now in my mind's eye! ~ Poems From Down Under by Lindsay P. Wilson. It'd be a best seller for sure! ~ I'd buy one! Love to you, my dear raconteuring Aussie Man! Linda  |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Enjoyed this tale of wilderness. It can be really tough out there! Your tale has great attractiveness. Love, Margherita |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Seeker Thank you very much for mentioning me with Banjo Patterson, it's quite a compliment, much appreciated. Linda, you always say the nicest things and I'm sure you are a very nice person. Yes I do have a book published, It's called 'Verse For Everyone',It covers five topics, Life, Sport, Friends, Wild Life and humour. There are a lot of sketches and a few photos in this book of 250 pages. It costs twenty dollars plus postage, but satisfaction is guaranteed. I also have another smaller book that I have printed myself on my commputer for 15 dollars. Margherita, You also, always say some very nice things and I sicerely thank you for that. Hugs to you all. Lindsay |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Lindsay, I would like to purchase your book "Verse for Everyone". Perhaps you could post in Announcements that you have books for sale. Ya see, I ain't as dumb as I look! I knew that you should be a published poet!  Linda |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Linda thank you for your acceptance of buying my Book, can you suggest where to send it and I'll be happy to oblige. Lindsay |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Lindsay, I sent an email to you with my address via this site. Perhaps it went to your Junk Mail folder. Linda |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I enjoyed this as usual. I will have to look in Amazon.com to see if I can find your book. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Lindsay, if you ever come back to read these responses...or if your family might find the links within your computer, please know that Man From Snowy River...and it's subsequent movie...Return of.... are among my favorite movies. |
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