Brumby Action Group Inc.
Maree Sura is feeling sad.
This is how I see Barmah National Park
Some men came home, but many didn’t.
OLD FAITHFUL
The young man rode his horse bareback
into the Barmah Forest.
He stopped, got off and said:
This is our special place known only to you and me
and here I’m setting you free.
For where I go you can’t come, it’s the Army life for me.
Meet me here in a year’s time, I’m sure I’ll be back by then.
This is April, the second month of Autumn
Soft rains should have come
and the pick will be sweet by then.
Tears prick his eyes, and the young man hugs his best friend.
I’ll be back next Autumn mate,
and we’ll race under the stars again.
He had just been a nipper when Blue
a Barmah Brumby had come into his life.
The horse was a Chestnut,
with a black forelock and mane.
They became best mates the boy and his horse.
The old faithful horse had been returning,
to their special place each year
He had lost count of the seasons of waiting
and now thought, he’d been forgotten.
The rains had come early this year,
green pick was all around
but the old faithful horse didn’t eat,
his heart just wasn’t in it anymore.
With a deep, deep sigh he starts to turn,
to slowly walk back to the forest.
But wait! There’s a figure at the end of the trail
and he remembers that gait so well.
He whinnies and whinnies in greeting,
as two skinny arms wrap around his neck,
tears of happiness, of sadness too
as old friends greet each other.
I’m sorry it took me so long to get home Blue
I was in the 10th Light Horse Regiment,
and got lost at some place called Beersheba.
But now my friend I’m home, come,
we’ll take a short trail ride
and then we’ll go home together.
Home!
The old horse tossed his head,
just like in his youth and felt his bones grow stronger,
and his coat shone again.
My best friend has come home he said
and I haven’t been forgotten
I am loved! I am loved! Whinnied Blue.
Photo credit: Janine Morffew
Nelle's journey 