Droving In The Old Days


You can hear the hobbles jingle in the creek bed overnight
You can hear the stamp of cattle as they settle down alright
And you lay there in your blankets cast your eye across the sky
See the stars that seem to float across the darkness way up high

Then you hear the old dog grunting as his leg begins to seek
The itching nibble of the stray flea as it brings him from his sleep
Then the crack of heated timber that you had fed into the fire
Lights up trees and other sleepers as you settle to retire

Then the sounds that drift so gentle through the bushland in the night
Lays its calming cloak across you and you know that you'll be right
And the swag that you had worked on so that it was right for you
Did its job and off you drifted snug and warm and comfy too

Round the campfire sits the kettle, billy cans, camp ovens to
As the bush stew gently simmers ready for the morning brews
Yeah its easy in my memories sitting in my office chair
Dreaming back into the old days sadly wishing I was there

Now you old blokes know the story and you remember it so well
How you roughed it in the old days Oh those stories you could tell
And its sad to sit and realise what the youngens just wont know
Bout the greatest thing a man can do when to the bush we go

Yes I heard the hobbles jingle and I heard the horses stamp
In the creekbed down the gully near an old time bushmans camp
And I hear the Dingos calling and they seem so sad and blue
Christ I miss me mates of old days and I miss the bushland too

Hey and if by chance you understand the sadness that I feel
Then I'll know that your a bushman and your backbones made of steel
And I'll know that you've been weathered in the greatest land of all
In Australia's outback bushland when you answered natures call

Forphy Nov 07



 

Goodonya Furph - that's a nice piece of work. I enjoy a bit of verse & have been know to put pen to paper myself on occasion.
I like a lot of the work by Bruce Simpson in his book Packhorse Drover. Aside from the poetry, it's a good read. In particular, one of my favourites is his poem 'Gold Star'. Are you familiar with his work? Based on the undercurrent of what you've written I'd say you'd enjoy it - or some of it perhaps.
Hooroo

Darn, Furph, yer reminding me why I wanted to boondock on my trip that ended yesterday.

But durn it, neither the TC nor the wooden cap on my truck are quite the same as the tent.

& either of those options means being able to haul a CO........................

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Thanks fellas try to say it like it is (for me anyway) and pleased if it strikes a chord with someone else

NPensioner not familier with his work at all but will take a look if he knows the bush then he will be a good read

LK when you get out here you will see what we mean about the bush

cheers guys

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