ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Four thirty in the morning

It’s now Piccaninny dawning
the noisy time of day
When all the birds are calling
And little creatures of the night
Now are hidden all away

The ghostly form of men
quietly come moving into sight
with glowing cigarettes from them
Amid stumbling sounds and cursing
Seems to make it sound all right

The billy it’s now boiling
Making tea both sweet and black
Just the thing for enjoying
It’s sweet smell mixed with smoke
As you greet the cattle waiting outback

The old neck bell will be clanging
Cause that roan’s now standing up.
A bellow here and birds are singing
as the cattle come awake
and the sun, comes slowly up.

Now the ringer’s brought the horses in
And the hobble chains removed.
And the old night horse will win
the right, to graze along the track.
Where the cattle they’ll be moved

So you’ll mount your horse and travel
behind that slowly moving mob.
For the cattle they’re no trouble,
as they graze along, that dusty track.
When you think about it, it’s just a job

Written by Bill Williams March 2011 ©

Nice Bill!
'Just a job' - yes with a good horse who does the work.

I like it and can almost hear those early morning sounds!

Thanks for sharing.

Dot

Thanks Dolly dot

Yep, that takes me there - thanks Bill

Cheers, Marty

Me too Bill.

Heather

I like the structure - five line poems with lines 2 and 5 rhyming. It's a refreshing change from all the AABB and ABAB.

The final line brought me up short. I wasn't expecting that, because you make it sound like so much more than 'just a job',

Thank Stephen and Heather try Sentimental night time in the audio section and let me know what you think

bill the old battler

Another fascinating piece of writing Bill. Well done again! Love it!

It paints a picture of a real Drover's Camp... and what happens there in the morning. Very informative. Have never been to one and hence I find it intriguing, and soak up the descriptive wording.

Certainly an interesting end though. Holy Moley!

I expected the drover to be saddling-up with the glorious dawn breaking in the background, etc... but no such thing!

"When you think about it, it's just a job".

Kinda brings one down to earth with a thump, that's for sure.

I think of the Drover as a bit of a villain ... who leaves his wife behind and has his spree in town.

"The life of a drover is carefree and strange,
The pleasures of town drew him far from the range.
He kissed other girls for his heart was untrue
Yet sent his wife presents and wrote to her too
Scrawling "Wait for me Jenny my love," he asked,
"Please wait for me Jenny my love."

Do you think that describes some drovers? or are they all too occupied with droving to think of anything else.?

Well it quite may be true in a way but if you listen to the one in Audio uploads it may answer your question

bill the old battler