ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The passing ©

Old mate, you know it’s kinda hard
when I see your pain strained face.
As I hold your head there in my lap,
In this god forsaken place!

Yes you and I and many others
Have caught mobs and branded them.
And we’ve sat or stood by campfires
as we listened to the men.

When nights were black and raining
Where, no place was dry to lay.
We’d stand behind a gum tree
Sheltered, where I’d pray!

Yes we’re mates, both you and I
and some others that we have known,
for many years around this bush
That’s rough and over grown.

On a clearing I have read to you
One I know you have not read.
About that Man from Snowy River
And a ride that’s full of dread.

But now I’m sad mate, my heart is broken
and will be for a long, long time.
For I know your leg is broken
And for a horse, that is a crime.


he was born in 1955 and died in 1967 he was my mate

Bill the battler

G'day Bill,

Sad to lose a mate. Even if it was the four legged kind. I lost a mate on Australia Day. Even though I had not seen him since 1989, he was one that was close to my heart. We shared the pleasure of the music of the late sixties. He being a singer in a band and me being a promoter of music. But more that this we were friends. He was only 59. We had kept in touch recently by internet.

This is probably the best of your work I have read. I'm not sure if it is the content of the craft.

Good one Bill - you will meet again, one day.

Cheers

Maureen

Lovely poem Bill. I just felt it was unfinished and you could possibly add to it.

Heather

I lost a beautiful strawberry roan appaloosa filly in a freak accident and it really knocked me for a six. I bred her and handled her and she had a great nature. My daughter became great friends with her too.

I wrote a poem called To Have Loved a Friend and later lyrics and a melody to a revised version Let's Say Adieu instead.

Enjoyed the read.


Merv.