Ghost riders in the Sky

[noelcauser]

I think I have posted this poem on another web site.At our poets breakfast we were shown a painting much like Kym's. In the painting a lone rider looks skywards and sees riders pushing cattle across the sky.We had to write a poem about the scene. this was my effort. Love your poem Kim.

Ghost riders in the Sky


The old man stood at the slip-rails,
and peered down the darkening track.
He sensed in the air there was trouble,
For the stockmen he sent weren't back.
The mind of the old man was tracing,
The track that the stockmen would take.
And the hours were quickly eroding,
for he knew just what was at stake.

The cattle were destined for market,
McDonald's the buyer had clout.
If the mob were late for the slaughter,
The seller was sure too miss out.
Time now the essence of failure,
The mob had to be here, now, today.
If not his business was ruined,
and some lousy stockmen would pay.

The cattle they mustered were green horns,
not accustomed to Man, Horse or whip.
Take flight before knowing what spooked,
them, and give those stockmen the slip.
The entrepreneurial skills of the riders,
Would never be questioned again.
for they knew the Boss would be angry,
and could end up going insane.





No horsemen yet born could contain them,
As the storm clouds rolled in from the west.
Lightning and thunder would spook any mob,
putting rider and horse to the test.
The sweat on his brow told the story,
of death that comes swiftly at night.
And the anguish and torment would linger,
Till every rider and steer was in sight.

Then out of the blue came a sight to behold,
The sky had turned red from the dust.
His stockmen appeared riding horse with wings,
and the cattle they pushed were all trussed.
The old man stood with his mouth open wide,
at the sight that had taken his eyes.
Each steer was rapped with a label,
and attached to a bag of French fries.

Yes, his prize herd came a bit unexpected,
for there wasn't a raw hide in sight.
With battle lines drawn and stockwhip in hand,
The old Codger was sparin to fight.
But the horsemen had smiles on their faces,
when that old face lit up with a glow.
Those Angus Beef Burgers in Maca's raps
were already and rearing too go.
Noel causer © 2010

[Kym]

Oh wow Noel, I was taking it seriously for a while! I did kind of think the McDonalds mention was a bit out of place, but when I got to the french fries bit I burst out laughing and everyone in the office looked at me. Great poem, great imagery at the beginning, you sounded very authentic (for a while)! You're very clever. Loved it.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Good one - Angry Angus no doubt?

Cheers

Maureen.

[Zondrae]

G'day all,

If I had half an hour I would tell you a bit about our Noel. We had our weekly gathering of Illawarra Breakfast Poets this morning (7am start) and Noel was there but he had to excuse himself a half hour early because he is off to Towoomba (?spelling) to join up with his mates from 'Blaze Aid'. They rebuilt miles and even many kilometers of fencing in Victoria after the bush fires and are gathering again, into crews, to start re-fencing now in Queensland.

Noel is a member of Rotary and a quiet achiever. He regularly drivers Cancer patients to and from their treatment. He is part of a scheme to let small farmers have a holiday. Having grown up on a dairy farm he has rural skills and goes to the farm to take care of stock etc so that farmers can get away. I think, in cases of need, the holiday is even arranged and paid for by Rotary.

He will be 80 next birthday and each week he brings his neighbour, Hazel, to poetry. Hazel Strachan entered the Nandewar Comp this year and placed third. It was her first competition she is in her 80s too.

[Neville Briggs]

Good on you Noel. I can remember when there was only one Macdonalds hamburger parlour Australia. Now ??