ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Boss Drover Artie Hall.


Artie Hall was bowed from horses,
Along miles of black soil roads,
A boss drover, yes was Artie Hall,
Mountains, plains in wagonette loads.
True and hard was Artie Hall,
Drovers job is now complete,
Rest in peace, bushman mate,
Horses and cattle , always neat.
An overland drover like old dad,
Ruggard life of the overland,
Miles of scrubs,drought and rain,
Stockmen and cattle, well in hand.
That special brand, Paterson breed,
Sixty years of droving life,
Not many left to know or care,
The drovers pleasures,children and wife.
Horses and wagon,collar and trace,
Worked the plains, through bilar,brigalow,
Stockroutes brown and stockroutes green,
The great true way , where the bushman go.
Honest and loyal, and a gentleman too,
Hard and lean, the horseman's style,
The Australian bush, that you knew well,
In a saddle seat, with many a mile.
Bright eyes that glowed, in campfire light,
Sense of humour, you shined with pride,
The stories you told, we will never forget,
Nature of man, will rest by your side.



(c) Duncan Williams. (2014)

Think you've got a typo in there Duncan - Rest in Peace was probably what your fingers meant to say

I'm sure Bill will relate to this poem - your words conjure up some iconic images of the old days.

Duncan old friend your words bring back many memories thank once again


Bill the old battler