FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

170

Will Ogilvie

Baby's Trumpet

When baby blows her trumpet the elves of mischief ride, her eyes are lit with laughter, her cheeks are puffed with pride. What gift of cradle-fairies

quiver, fancy, marshalled, army, love, sake

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

171

Will Ogilvie

Three

Up at seven and down the stair to find that the sun is already there, that the grass is green and the sky is blue, and the fir tree fringed with morning dew,

rose, cranesbill, creep, children, free

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

172

Will Ogilvie

The Admiral

Low in his cushions, with wide blue eyes, our future English Admiral lies. With loving thought has his life been planned; He shall take his share of the seas' command.

dream, breast, sake, Spain, Dutch, snake

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

173

Will Ogilvie

A Lullaby

Lady Moon, O Lady Moon, here's a little sleepy girlie that must go to slumber soon! Won't you glide across the window on your shining silver wings,

diamond, cities, light, December, June, snow

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

174

Will Ogilvie

The Happy People

Do you know the Happy People? The really happy folk, who bear no woman's burden, who bend to no man's yoke? The happy, laughing people who chase on golden ways

witch, path, rejoice, gorgeous, harpers, kingdom

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

174

Will Ogilvie

To My Baby Girl

O, little heart that beats so close to mine, I pray for you that every heart be true which through the years shall worship at your shrine; May none betray,

rose, true, pray, heart

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

175

Will Ogilvie

The Barring Of The Gates

"Then there aren't any fairies at all, Mummy?" The Fairy King lies dead-Ring, ring the bluebells over him! Gather the beech leaves red for a winding

dear, heart, rainbow, moon, doubt

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

176

Will Ogilvie

A King Deposed

He sat in the darkness weeping by the gates of his Empire closed. A ruler stripped of his purple, a king form his realm deposed. They passed him, going to worship;

silent, cradle, nursery, sleep, palace, notice

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

177

Will Ogilvie

The Bringer Of Days

There are far places where she plays, and unguessed paths down which she strays; And once round-eyed, she said to me, "The postman brings the day!

smile, tears, hidden, joys, guile

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

177

Will Ogilvie

The Burning Of Summer

I heard a laugh in the leafless trees; I saw on the path of the open sky, Borne by the light October breeze, a blue smoke drifting by. A tiny maid in her waltz of cheer

dear, rose, smoke, child, memory

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

178

Will Ogilvie

The Apple Winds

I had no thought of stormy sky in days when I was small and all the world was bounded by our ten-foot garden wall. I never thought the storm winds came

apples, cold, chill, storm, sails

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

179

Will Ogilvie

Rainbows And Witches

I remember, ever so long alo, at the other side of the world away when rain would cease on an April day, when the mountain mists would roll and rise

gate, hill, fortune, beyond, hopeless, rainbow, eager

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

183

Will Ogilvie

For Beauty's Sake

There's never a Castle-tower so steep and the breath of her guns so warm but, if beauty lay bound in her dungeon-keep, the cowards of earth would storm;

fear, quest, kiss, love, golden hair, dear

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

184

Will Ogilvie

Only A Day

Brown honey-bees, drop to your pollen! Up, butterflies, into the sun! One day from Death's hand we have stolen, one hour from the dark we have won! Soon, all too soon,

remember, blossom, ring, blades, wine, greeting

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

185

Will Ogilvie

Moon Cry

A woman sat by a bed crooning the mother-croon, but the child cried "Give me the moon!" and would not be comforted. The moonbeams left the cot,

forget, sleep, dark, play, young

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

185

Will Ogilvie

Let Green Weeds Gather

Let green weeds gather in our garden ways, let summer suns burn down our favourite blooms, but let no happy-hearted brides and grooms cross the dear paths, for sake of those dear days,

homestead, tombs, friends, empty, heart, memory

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

186

Will Ogilvie

The Ingleside

When the shadows downward glide fancy rules the ingleside, and within the glowing fire lie the dream fields of Desire. Brighter than the lighted lamps

glow, lover, comrarde, flame, flowers

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

187

Will Ogilvie

The Old Boat

The Old Boat lies in the sand and slime and the sun is springing her planks; she is drifting away on the river of Time between Eternity's banks:

hope, gold, shade, wonder, trip, pleasure

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

188

Will Ogilvie

The Riddle Of Life

We ride from the East in the grey light; The curtains of night are withdrawn; The young leaves curl up to the daylight, the magpies are hailing the dawn;

noontide, hohllow, hillside, sin, forget, moon

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

189

Will Ogilvie

The Last Toast

They were our little playmates in the far-away cradle-days with their toddling gait and their lisping speech and their wonderful baby ways;

fair, wife, wine, laught, pearls, hemlock

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

190

Will Ogilvie

Memory Town

From dawning to dusk moves the crowd in her street with eyes looking upward, quick pulses that beat. and slow feet that loiter, and dumb lips that call

sunshine, regret, pavements, wistful, death

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

191

Will Ogilvie

The Secrets Of The Moon

I lie at night and watch her as she sails across the sky with the hidden joys and sorrows that we know not, you and I; And I watch her drifting onward

freight, friendly, brave, stars, cradles

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

193

Will Ogilvie

The Race Of My Heart

I have ridden in finishes fast and fine for many a purse and plate, from the coorong out to the Condamine, from Bourke to the Bogan Gate: But the race of my heart has a sunset

creek, whip, rein, troops, race

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

194

Will Ogilvie

Auld Lang Syne

O it's southward from Southampton! and she takes the Channel gay, but many a heart is bleeding as she stands across the bay; And it may be just a parting where we've known a hundred more,

ship, saloon, music, trip, restless, tears

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

196

Will Ogilvie

Vita Brevis

OUr life is but a moment: one sheen of silk and pearls; One dance between the daylights with a certain girl of girls; One feast of burning kisses,

death, rails, sunlights, despite, fails