The Scribblybarkpoet

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THEY ARE PART OF OUR HISTORY … Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBarkPoet

They were part of the history that shaped this old land,

a part of a vanishing breed,

strong, young Aussie blokes, handsome and brave,

and their brumby bred tough mountain steeds;.

they answered the call when the call to arms came,

‘Cooee’ was heard across the land,

they travelled to cities where they disembarked

all prepared for an adventure grand.

Little they knew at that time of the cost

and the sacrifices to be made –

Though if they had known would it alter their course?

It’s unlikely they would have been swayed.

Had they realized their horses would never return –

that they’d never more walk Aussie loam

perhaps that might have given them pause for thought …..

now its foreign soil cradles their bones.

They were labeled as ‘Walers’ in 1914

to the 1st Light Horse Brigade they’d go –

a motley collection of tough Aussie steeds

from the mountains and deserts and snow.

There was Jimbo, and Jack – a rangy tall black

whose coat had an ebony sheen,

and D’artagnan the grey from Kosciusko way –

brumby bred, muscled, strong, keen and lean.

There was Hammer and Thor and a dozen or more

that once roamed in the forests of Barmah

and the Queensland brigade from up Bundaberg way

were the well loved work team of a farmer.

There were heavy and light who would play their part right,

overworked, under stress, short on water

Pulling canons and more into the war God’s maw

all destined for eventual slaughter.

Now the snow fields of Kossy were merely a dream

Barmah forest a mere recollection

the reality here was vast deserts of sand,

a never ending thirst – no protection.

There was shell burst and blood, the never ending thud

and the crackle of gunfire all round,

with the screams of the men and the horses again,

and again a cacophony of sound.

Yes, they’re part of the history that helped shape this land,

a part of a long vanished breed,

strong ,tough , young Aussie blokes, handsome and brave,

and their brumby bred tough mountain steeds;

it’s our history paid for in blood, sweat and tears

and we show our respect to the fallen

but we’ve little respect for the horses that fell

their descendants future seems appalling.

Australia’s a country of wide open plains,

mountain slopes, deep rivers . coastal beaches.

We embrace everybody, offer friendship’s hand

from our coastal towns to outback reaches.

We can all live in peace with no need to decrease

one species to make room for another.

We may once again need the help of our brave steeds

should the fossil fuels dwindle and suffer.