FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

211

Will Ogilvie

His Gippsland Girl

Now, money was scarce an work was slack and love to his heart crept in, and he rode away on the Northern track to war with the World and wine; and he vowed by the locket upon his breast

pearl, free, union, shadows, flood

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

213

Will Ogilvie

The Township Lights

With laughter and love-spells and witch-eyes of blue a girl in the township is waiting for you. There is nothing that thrills like a handclasp of hers, so bridle your best horse and buckle your spurs;

smile, sky, die, creed, disporve, love

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

214

Will Ogilvie

Home By The Stars

When the lights of the township burn faintly and far and the noise of the dancers dies down at our back, then we coax a red glow to our final cigar, and the grey cocks his ears as he picks up the track

ban, forget, sea, sing, gate, dim, timber

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

216

Will Ogilvie

The Campfires

You may look in vain for the ashes of my campfires lone and apart, where the girls with the golden sashes brought rest to a rover's heart. In the calm and

fairy stories, lonely, sorrow, golden, reckless

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

217

Will Ogilvie

Good-Bye

Here, on the broken strings of Love's mute harp, across the withered flowers of all dead dreams, give me your hand and take my last farewell! One glance of love!-the last from those dear eyes!

embrace, western sky, dark, love, sweeet, bitterness

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

218

Will Ogilvie

Berinda's Wooing

No man upon the western side has acres half so rich or wide; No man upon the sunset plain has such a gentle winning smile, so true a heart,

vain, stolen, waves, sweet, art

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

219

Will Ogilvie

Forty Miles For A Kiss

We crossed our hands as old comrades do, with a light farwell at the dawn of day; But well we knew that love's adieu is taken in different mood and way

shade, sweet refrain, sympathy, steel

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

220

Will Ogilvie

"Perhaps To-Night-!"

"Perhaps to night-!" came flashing through the splendour of gleaming lights, and gems and faces fair; The touching hands, the whispers low and tender, the love-lit glances and the scented air;

dancers, meadow, vows, love

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

221

Will Ogilvie

The Land Beyond Good-Bye

Hand-in-hand we start with them through the sunny days, clasping hands we part with them at the parting ways. Letters come like homing doves, then cease to come;

trains, sorrow calls, pity, lost, pases, love

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

222

Will Ogilvie

The Rose Out Of Reach

A red rose grew on a southward wall, there was never a rose on the tree so tall; Though roses twined at my lingering fee, roses andr roses, scented sweet,

summer, wounds, blood, blow, speech

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

223

Will Ogilvie

Dead Roses

They lie in dim corners with dust on the leaves, each withered brown bloom with the story it weaves of sweethearts and sorrow, of doubt and despair- a gift from her girdle,

tear, cheer, fate, unconfessed, blossom

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

224

Will Ogilvie

By Candle-Light

I went with my love by candle-light through the deep of the poplar grove; The moon looked down on the silver leaves and I looked down on my love.

path, free, love, dear, mutter, moth

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

225

Will Ogilvie

When Horses Are Saddled For Love

The saddle-slaves of love are we who mount by sun and moon, no matter what the season be so long as it be soon! The golden and the gray light

snaffle, faster, love, hill, river, greet, meet

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

227

Will Ogilvie

The Cruellest Dream

So here at the last I find I am holding again your hand, and why you are cruel no more, but kind. I scarcely can understand; But I know that the earth

voice, heart, love, fair, true

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

228

Will Ogilvie

Gold Tresses

You stand at my knee, Gold Tresses! Most true of all lovers of mine, with lips that are fashioned for kisses and fingers that thrill where they twine:

kisses, wine, rain, sunlight, sorrow, despair

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

229

Will Ogilvie

The Ship Of My Heart

She has been sailing years and years: Hull-down on a bygone sunset she vanished with all my dreams; I have followed her wake with wonder, I have hidden her track with tears,

roses, blossom, whisper, sing, sea

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

231

Will Ogilvie

Stars In The Mist

I have followed the sins of reckless youth with the Devil to time the dance, and farther and farther I drift from Truth as the hopeless years advance; Round me and

lfuture, regard, sign, burn, kiss, love

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

232

Will Ogilvie

Good-Bye, Lynette!

I have worked for you-toil made sweet, love! And never I grudged an hour; Now the dead leaves drift at our feet, love, that trod by the trees in flower! The scent of the rose blows over-

bleed, sorrow, tears, token

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

233

Will Ogilvie

"God-Speed!"

Because we've waked the morning-stars together, June to June; Because our spurs and stirrup-bars have clashed the same old tune; Because we've drawn

destiny, musical, disagreed, flag

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

234

Will Ogilvie

"Sorry To Go!"

I watched by the homestead where moonbeam and star made a glory of night-time and danced with the dew, and the bush-wind that whispered from ranges afar

heart, mock, pink, rein, cry, steers

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

236

Will Ogilvie

In Mulga Town

We played at love in Mulga town, and O, her eyes were blue! we played at love in Mulga town and love's a game for two.

kiss, bride, mortal, sleep, dead, sad

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

237

Will Ogilvie

A Wildflower By The Way

The sun-rays burned like brands a-fire, and with a half-mile spread, in blue grass to their heart'desire the big Windorashs fed.

dimple, soft, laugh, cattle, dull

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

239

Will Ogilvie

A Tell-Tale Tryst

O who was it saddled White star last night, and who was it saddled White Star? You can read his track to the rails and back and down the creek ever so far.

fashion, love, sake, restless hooves, lock

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

241

Will Ogilvie

Christmas Night

The lamps will be lit over seas tonight, and the feast of the year be spread, and the girls will gather with faces bright and the wine will sparkle red;

cheer, delight, roam, sweet, silent

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

245

Will Ogilvie

Adam Lindsay Gordon

Ah! sad, proud Gordon! Crossing swords with care, and touching hands so many times with Death that Death at last came, kissed him scarce aware, and laid him sleeping

hope, prove, reckless, bushman, horseman