WHAT PRICE A LIFE

[Vic Jefferies]

An old one of mine I am polishing up to perform on the weekend at Cobargo Folk Festival. Thought it might be relevant at the moment...

WHAT PRICE A LIFE

The auctioneer was brash and loud,
a fine example of his profession,
as he announced to the assembled crowd,
“This place goes vacant possession!
The bank’s instructions to me are clear,
I must sell this land today,
for the farmer is six months in arrears
and it is plain he cannot pay.”

The old man stood by the stockyard gate,
quietly watching the sale proceed,
his heart growing heavy with shame and hate
as he observed the vultures feed,
though he knew there was nought that could be done
to save his precious land,
for now the wind, the drought and the sun
had assumed complete command.

The auctioneer with his cheery face,
from where he stood beneath a tree,
cried, “I said I’m here to sell this place,
not give it away for free!
Here is your chance to secure a prize,
wont someone make me a bid?”
And to everyone’s great surprise -
that is just what the old man did.

“I bid,” he said, “Forty years of toil,
of heartbreak, sweat and pain;
the blood and the tears that watered this soil
while we starved through years without rain.
“I bid,” he said, “A good woman’s life,
now gone to her God too long,
because she was this poor farmer’s wife,
and stuck to him right or wrong.

I bid you her grave beneath that tree
from where you stand to conduct your sale,
that tree was planted by her and me
when our youth said we could not fail.
I bid you a life of fighting the banks
and their never ending greed,
and I bid you a life of no thought or thanks
from the thousands that you feed.”

Then the old man sadly turned away
and walked out through the gate,
and still I ponder to this day,
what now is the going rate,
for the sum of a man’s entire life
and the lives of his family,
and what do you bid for a beloved wife -
asleep beneath her tree?

Vic Jefferies

[DollyDot]

What a lovely poem even if it brought a tear to my eye.
Thanks for sharing,
Dot

[manfredvijars]

All to common a scenario Vic. I personally know one going through that at the moment ... just tragic ...
Brilliant piece, covered all the bases. Succinctly put - Well done!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Very many people would so relate to this lovely poem Vic - heartbreakingly sad and well put. What price indeed.

[Vic Jefferies]

Thank you Dot Manfred and Maureen. I wrote the poem some years ago when the bush was going through a similar drought.

[alongtimegone]

Could have been written yesterday Vic. A wonderful poem mate. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Wazza

[Vic Jefferies]

Thank you Wazza. I have just come home from the Cobargo Festival, so sorry for the delay.

[manfredvijars]

So, how did you go with it Mate ?

[Vic Jefferies]

Posted it in EVENTS Manfred.

[Vic Jefferies]

Just received notification this poem is now posted on the American Cowboy Poetry web site http://www.cowboypoetry.com/vicjefferies.htm.
Has taken a while. I submitted it last year and after initially agreeing to post the poem the organisers lost the email.
Better late than never!