Wool Away

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Glen Hughes
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:36 am

Wool Away

Post by Glen Hughes » Thu May 19, 2022 5:22 am

28 - Wool Away

Explained to all by many,
expressed with tongue in cheek,
just like peeling a banana,
taking wool off sheep.
A work of art with practice,
timing, rhythm, and flow,
the smell and feel of lanolin,
shearing, blow by blow.

Shearing time, winter time,
time to muster stock,
40 mile, to walk’em,
together as a flock.
Plane and bikes for mustering,
dogs behind the mob,
ten mile a day, a good day,
slow and dusty job.

Hold the mob together,
wind, dust, a gale,
working dogs are busy,
pushing up the tail,
Yard and draft, shed and pen,
crank the old shed motor,
ring the bell, drag’em out,
rip in to get your quota

The process so mechanical,
drag out, sit up, knee grip,
off side fore tucked, behind right knee,
locked in and cannot slip.
Squirt of oil on hand piece,
grab and pull in gear,
belly off, flick it out,
legs and crutch to clear.

Wig and poll, be careful,
around the eyes and ears,
confidence and compassion,
learned throughout the years.
Reposition, turning,
neck and shoulder clear,
roll your sheep on to its’ back,
long blows, head to rear.

Rolling as your shearing,
sheep back sitting up,
last blows down the off back leg,
be careful not to cut.
Slide your stand door open,
push’em out the door,
adjust your comb and cutter,
reposition on the floor.

Stand up for a back stretch,
rousies on the run,
wool away, sweep and clear,
the work is hard but fun.
Fleece to carefully grab and fold,
table throw and land,
skirt the edges, roll and class,
sweep up locks and sand.

Ring the bell for cutout,
last sheep out the door,
grab your towel, mop your brow,
sweep and scrub the floor.
Sheep to count, brand and dip,
wool to press and load,
one hundred bales, on their way,
to wool stores, down the road.

Explained to all by many,
expressed with tongue in cheek,
just like peeling a banana,
taking wool off sheep.
A work of art with practice,
timing, rhythm, and flow,
the smell and feel of lanolin,
shearing, blow by blow.

Glen Hughes ©
18/4/22

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Shelley Hansen
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Location: Maryborough, Queensland
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Re: Wool Away

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue May 24, 2022 6:15 pm

I like the momentum in this poem, Glen. Really gives the feel of the shearing shed.

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
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Re: Wool Away

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Wed Jun 01, 2022 8:32 am

Love it - although with my old sheep it was more wrestling the wool off rather than peeling it :lol:
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Catherine Lee
Posts: 1300
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 9:47 pm
Location: Thailand

Re: Wool Away

Post by Catherine Lee » Thu Jun 02, 2022 2:17 pm

Yes, I agree with Shelley and Maureen - this poem flows so smoothly and conjures up all the sights, sounds and smells of the shearing shed really well.

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