His last muster
He’s resting now inside his battered swag
as cattle doze not far from where he lies.
While other stockmen camp nearby and brag,
this man, prefers the quiet starlit skies.
The four week mustering is all but done,
when very soon he’ll take a well earned break;
far from the horses and the cattle’s run,
then rest his bones, that these days always ache.
His best friend ‘Jess’ is hobbled for the night,
he knows she will not wander far away
then, wake him in the early morning light
with gentle nudging and persistent neigh.
So as he drifts into a restless sleep,
again the visions of his wife appear.
He calls her name; she turns and starts to weep,
while reaching for him, say’s she need’s him near.
His happy thoughts become a nightmare scene,
the fire and the horror and distress.
Still hears the screaming from his darling Jean;
Her life was lost amongst that burning mess.
That past event he still can’t comprehend
while, even years of droving mobs along
just could not help his broken heart to mend,
because for twenty years, her ghost has shone.
The neighs from Jess now wake the other men,
for as the dawn is breaking, he still lies.
He’s in the arms of his love Jean again,
together, as they walk beneath clear skies.
David J Delaney ©
