ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

an old one that I have been playing around with - sparked by Bobs poem about Jinny,


THE KELPIE AND THE KING



He guards his sleeping master as if he were a king
though he owns no turreted castles, or gold and fancy things,
he’s just one old battered swaggie who often sleeps out in the cold
with his mate a faithful kelpie. Both are worn and somewhat old.

The dog has no high born pedigree; he’s just a lowly cur,
with a trace of the wild dingo, picked by the colour of his fur.
But he’s loyal and he loves the old swaggie who’s his best mate.
Daily they tramp the roads together, and both are happy with their fate.

They share a fire together and a blanket ‘neath the stars.
In tune with nature they survive together where they are.
Cold nights the kelpie snuggles close beneath the old mans arm,
always alert with a watchful eye to keep his mate from harm.

The swaggie shares each morsel of his somewhat scanty stew
as the limpid brown eyed kelpie waits, to see what he will do.
For they’ve been together now for close on fifteen years
and both are growing older and both share different fears.

The dog is scared of thunder though he was born on the track.
Whilst the swaggie’s scared that old age will finally force him back
to the city. But where to go? Difficulties he perceives,
as most places there won’t take the dog, and his mate he won’t leave.

He hopes that when his time comes round that his God will be kind.
Together let them pass in sleep – worries left far behind.
He’s happy in the open with no need of roof or walls
with his swag at night to warm him and his mate to hear his calls.

The dogs worries are not like mans, he doesn’t think like that.
His needs are more immediate, just tucker and a pat.
A fire warm, a blanket soft to ease his aching bones.
For life is hard for dog and man when outback roads they roam.

Who knows how their story ends? Who pray can foretell?
Who will say a prayer for them? Who will wish them well?
Staunch and independent, together they face everything
The dog guards his master loyally, the Kelpie and his King...

Maureen Clifford © 2008

Old Dogs and children and rum and cola.

Never a better combination.

You can go away for half and hour or months and you still get the same welcome.

Just watched the news where a fella spent 4 thousand dollars to save his dog after she was bitten by a brown.


Thats a real mate.


Bob

The cost of Mahalias surgery is not too far behind that let me tell you and chances are once this leg comes good - and she is struggling - the other one will need doing as well - Lucky I could redraw the mortgage - as I told my son his inheritance had just taken a plunge

Sorry Maureen I am not stealing your thread Just Placeing this short poem with my own memories that were triggered by your poem

Bill Williams

Where?

I’m sad to see those years have gone,
When! Old men roamed the track.
A swag, an old quart billy pot,
a dog and not much more than that.

His tucker bag was always lean
his dog not much more than that.
As they shuffled on that lonely track,
that’s hot and dusty, way outback.

When we were youths we saw these things,
those years have now since gone, to where?
A way of life, once often seen, alas has past,
a man a dog, a way of life, now forever gone.

Bill Williams May 2011 ©

PS Now David The above that I wrote called "Where"
It does not comply with all the cryteria of Bush Poetry and yet I tells a story in a pure simple way that is pure Australian Bush folk lore and telling. sorry mate not being nasty in any way just wondering if need be I will record it and put it on the forum so you may hear what I mean by said word can often tell a simple story better than simple written words Bill Williams

I like your nostalgia ballad Maureen. I heard that the aborigines used to characterize the coldness of the night by whether it was a one dog, two dog or four dog night to keep warm enough . Bill will know if that's right.

You don't need to explain Bill, we take you as you are

I wonder how the swaggies would feed the dog? Does a dog thrive on damper and tea ?

Well Neville there was Maureens resturaunt where she has road kills or bandicooting someones vegie patch
It is surprising why all of a sudden hens dont lay for one night or when you have one less in the flock of sheep you counted that night. And talk of being cold. One at Ballerat rodeo we camped at the show grounds with my horse it was so cold and there was no fire wood to be found even the rails of the show grounds were made of steel. could not go to the lou for fear that it might break off I even looked at my horses rug but I had only clipped him the day before all my cloths and blankets I was wearing and in those days cars did not have heaters. We knew how Scott of the Antartic felt by the way Neville the local cop shop was locked up tight
We would have set fire to the grand stand If we could have foung some kindling before it started snowing

Bill the old Battler

Yes I have heard that story Neville and to me it rings true as it is a practical solution. We are having one dog nights here at the moment, Elly starts off in her own bed but every morning is curled in a ball under the blankets at my feet. Poor old Mahalia is relegated to under the house as she can't manage the stairs and possibly never will again. But she is warm enough with her coat and two blankets and her very very thick padded removalists blanket and two sheepskins beneath her