»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #42
»
The House up on The Hill
| Open Poetry #42 |
|
The House up on The Hill |
|
|
LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
|
THE HOUSE UP ON THE HILL The old cattle dog stood ready, The stock horse was saddled too, But the drover’s heart was heavy As he said goodbye to Sue. Her eyes were sad and misty As these angry words were spoken, “You promised not to go again But that promise you have broken. I cannot stand the solitude And you don’t seem to care, The lonely nights when your away Are more than I can bear. Through the years when you’ve been away Out droving on the plains, When our kids were still at home It always helped to ease the pain. And until you came back home I have always kept a light, So when you crossed the river at the ford, It would guide you home at night. “Jack, if you go droving once again, And although I love you still, I won’t be here when you get back To our house here on the hill.” Now the wattle had thrice been in bloom Since he’d last been on the track, But he’d been offered a three month’s job And there was just no turning back. He thought again of the droving days And all the happy memories stored, It helped to ease the pangs of guilt As he crossed the river at the ford. He rode across the saltbush plain Till ten times the sun went down, And there he met them all again At the only pub in town. He met again his mates of old, Jim and Frank and Skinny Joe, He didn’t breathe a word to them About the fact he shouldn’t go. They clapped him on his brawny back That was inclined to bow with age, He enjoyed again the comradeship And that of holding centre stage. It gave to him a cosy feeling That one feels at the end, Of a warm and hearty handshake From a true and trusted friend. They collected all their rations Before they started forth, With twelve hundred head of cattle On the long trip way up north. The big mob was rather skittish, The boss said, “drovers all take heed, The last thing that we want to see Is twelve hundred head stampede.” It took a week to train the mob As any good boss knows, And until they bedded down at night, He kept the drovers on their toes. The sun was warm on those endless days And the days turned into weeks, They grazed them out across the plains And camped them down by creeks. Before the trip was half way oe’r, Jack began to feel his aches and pains, He hoped they’d get the cattle through Before the winter rains. He thought about his lonely wife, Would she stay there until, He crossed the river at the ford And reached the house up on the hill. His mind dwelt on his modest home And all the comforts there in store, He missed the fussing of his wife Like he’d never done before. Then one night the thunder rolled While heavy rain began to fall, And a dozen weary droving men Left their bunks at the boss’s call. They quickly circled round the mob As the bullocks bellowed fright, It took several hours to quiet them down, There was no more sleep that night. Jack’s joints were stiff and aching now As he braved the wet and cold, He voiced his thoughts to Skinny Joe That he must be getting old. It wasn’t like the good old days, The going now was tough, He remembered in his days of youth That no day was long enough. Even though with weary limbs His work load he did not shirk, Till they finally drove the cattle through To that station back of Burke. They all gathered in the pub that night Where the boss paid off the men, As he shook Jack’s knarled old hand, He said, “I hope we meet again.” “And though it’s been a rugged trip And at times I’ve had my fears, It was good that I could count upon You men of senior years.” Next morning with the rising sun Jack was ready, set to go, He said goodbye to all the men And to his good mate Skinny Joe. As he headed home across the plain To himself he made a vow, That if his wife was waiting still, He’d never drove another cow. His old stock horse was slower now But home was ever on his mind, His old cattle dog was struggling too, Over two hundred yards behind. When the final day was reached, They all looked a sorry sight, But he decided not to camp, He’d sooner make it home that night. As they struggled gamely on, He thought, would she love him still, And as he crossed the river at the ford He saw the light up on the hill. |
||
| © Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Whew! I was holding my breath to see if that light was on, Lindsay. I hope he kept his promise. Ida |
||
|
graeshine2006 Member
since 2008-06-03
Posts 368The Prairie Lands, USA |
OMG - I was holding my breath too... I really thought she'd be gone! Yeah Jack - go towards the light! Really enjoyed this. |
||
|
Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Wow, dear Lindsay, this was a wonderful tale and very moving too. I am so glad the light was on!! You have the memories which will never fade, I am sure. Love, Margherita  |
||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
DearDearLindsay~ This is the greatest read on the boards !!! You are simply a master story-teller~ I'm going to share this one with a few others~  Good to see you, my friend~ I am feeling stronger and thanking you for your thoughtful prayers~  My love to your family~ *Huglets*  ~*Marge*~ ~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~ |
||
|
scoff Member
since 2008-07-04
Posts 71Georgia |
Outstanding piece of work. A genuine pleasure to read. |
||
|
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
An immense pleasure to read... you sure can tell a tale, sir! *S* Many thanks to Marge for pointing me thisaway. *S* |
||
SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I'm so glad I read this  Lindsay...you tell a wonderful story and you almost made me cry!  you are one of the best here... you should know that. |
||
|
LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
My very dear friends, Ida, Graeshine,Margherita, Marge, Scoff, Suthern and Sea, saying thank you just doesn't seem enough for the wonderful words of your responses. But believe me folks they are more than appreciated. It's what makes writing so enjoyable. God Bless you all love to you, and Marge it is so good to see you back on PIP Lindsay |
||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Lindsay P Wilson ~ you are a raconteur extraordinaire! I could read you all day! ~ and I have! ~ When I read your book "Verse for Everyone".  Love to you my darlin' Aussie Man! Linda  |
||
|
Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
LindsayP, Nice poem. Another payday is always a good thing. Bobby |
||
|
LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
My dear sweet Linda you always say the nicest things, but there again that is your nature, and what a wonderful nature it is. Thank you, love to you. Robert E Jordan you are another prolific poet who always give me a generous response. and I sicerely thank you for that. Have a great day my friend and God Bless Lindsay |
||
|
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine interesting writing...James |
||
|
XGarapanX Senior Member
since 2008-06-19
Posts 1435Antarctica |
I liked the story, the writing, everything. Now I want to be a cowboy when I grow up, lol! ·´~`·»Garapan«·´~`· |
||
|
Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Hi Lindsay, always enjoy your peotry my friend, this is yet another fine one, thanks for the sharing, have a wonderful day. Rick |
||
|
LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
James, Garapan and Rick You are always so kind with your response and I sincerely thank you all, Have a great day my friends. Lindsay |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
