FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

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

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

247

Will Ogilvie

Flying Doctor

I like to read of those gallant souls who fly to the sick man's aid where the endless map of the Bush unrolls and the loneliest leagues are laid.

moon, star, street, tales, stride, urgent call

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

249

Will Ogilvie

Harry Morant

Harry Morant was a friend I had in the years long passed away, a chivalrous, wild and reckless lad, a knight born out of his day.

fears, applause, lie, dare, spare, fate

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

252

Will Ogilvie

Cavalier

With a careless grace and idle he walks as one of the crowd, but give him a saddle and bridle and see what it is to be proud! His head has a nobler carriage,

marriage, weather, couple, fire, past, blast, journey

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

253

Will Ogilvie

The Swagman

It may be the swagman is rarer round Barringun, Byrock and Bourke than in days when that lonely wayfarer made walking the whole of his work. Has he now found relief

surveys, survivors, flies, ponies, trouble, journey

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

255

Will Ogilvie

The Jackeroo

Here he comes-a bit of a freak, with a glass in his eye and a rosy cheek! Useless, of course; no good on a horse; And taking a buster twice a week.

gloom, adviser, surprise, root, deal, blodd

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

257

Will Ogilvie

Black Trackers

Swart bloodhounds of the fenceless West, black gallopers that lead the Law, to whom your victims stand confessed by every lightest line they draw; The hawks that hight above you sail

fathers, prize, paid, king, ring, pride

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

259

Will Ogilvie

The Western Squatter

Here in the west lie our limitless acres, blue-grass and barley-grass, saltbush and sand; Here were out grandsires the early road-breakers and here to this day we are lords of the land.

friends, expense, flood, fire, boss, loss, profit

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

261

Will Ogilvie

The Stockyard Liar

If ever you're handling a rough one There's bound to be perched on the rails of the Stockyard some grizzled old tough one whose flow of advice never fails;

aspire, rum, fashion, passion, confidence

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

263

Will Ogilvie

Black Sheep

They shepherd their Black Sheep down to the ships, society's banned and cursed; And the boys look back as the old land dips- some with a reckless laugh on their lips.

regret, staff, photograph, gift, hair, hope

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

265

Will Ogilvie

The Gipsy

"Now cross my hand with silver" said the gipsy crone to me, "And I will tell your life that's past and all your life to be!" I said, "The old I know too well,

harvest, moon, fairies, gold, freedom

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

269

Will Ogilvie

When The Brolgas Dance

O, bright may be the ballroom and glamorous the tune where fair girls in their finery step out in silver shoon, but no one knows Terpsichore

crimson, beauty, lady, courtesy, dance, kiss

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

270

Will Ogilvie

A Little Bit Of Garden

We need no crown or sceptre, for, now that it is Spring, just a little bit of garden- and every man's a king! A little breadth of border,

blade, peep, crown, garde, king