FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

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

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

271

Will Ogilvie

They Grey Nurse

At the feet of this oldest of nurses, whom the wind has made grey with his strife, happy youth in its wonder rehearses the play and the labour of life;

beautiful, thunder, slaughter, tender, hate

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

272

Will Ogilvie

There's A Clean Wind Blowing

There's a clean wind blowing over hill-flower and peat, where the bell-heather's growing, and the borwn burn flowing,

master wind, challenge, birds, lord, town

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

273

Will Ogilvie

Flowers Of The Forst

The sun is king on the crest of the hill, and the woods are aflame with his glory; The voice of the north wind is suddenly still and the trees have forgotten her story;

pitiful, fairies, afraid, moon, pride

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

274

Will Ogilvie

Contentment

The gold leaf said to the brown; "Let us take hands and go down on the wind's wings, for summer is spent and the sap runs slow;

nest, bird, fire, yellow leaf, desire

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

275

Will Ogilvie

Riches

I may neither sport nor feast; Wealth is not for me to make; But the sun is mine at least, and my blue hills none can take.

sky, god, wine, creed, heath, heart, gold, song

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

279

Will Ogilvie

Cicadas

When the Bush is still as death, and the night wind whispers under her breath, when the shite stars beckon without a word and not one leaf of the box is stirred-

tune, music, bold, jealous, peace, pride

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

276

Will Ogilvie

The Comfort Of The Hills

Heart! If you've a sorrow take it to the hills! lay it where the sunshine cups of colour spills! Hide it in the shadow of the folding fern;

burn, wind, sorrow, silence, lie, healing

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

277

Will Ogilvie

The Shadow Dancers

When the shallow's dipping low and the cloud's above the wheat, you can see the Shadow Dancers as they pass on flying feet;

partner, whisper, twinkling, remember, past

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

278

Will Ogilvie

Again

Ain't it good to see again leaf an'bud an'bee again- friends a fellow knows! Ain't it good to feel again hook an'rod an'reel again where the ripple flows!

summer, rose, gold, grand, rare, sake

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

280

Will Ogilvie

Bush Spiders

Steady! you galloping riders: Steady! and swing to the side: Room for the little bush spiders who toil at your hand as ye ride! See where the sunbeams are gilding

pride, spiders, rail, bridges, spoilers, sin, mooon

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

281

Will Ogilvie

Ballade Of Windy Nights

Have you learnet the sorrow of windy nights when lilacs down in the garden moan, and stars are flickering faint, wan lights, and voices whisper in wood and stone?

ghosts, shadow, pale, love, sorrow

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

282

Will Ogilvie

To A Bunch Of Heather

Was it early in the autumn, was it sunny summer weather? Were the white mists on the Carter when they plucked you on the moor? Were the mountain dews upon you in the morning,

jewel, tremble, crash, token, royal, stars, rainbow

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

284

Will Ogilvie

Opals

Their fire is found in the sunset; Their pearl is part of the dawn; Their faint green-blue is the nameless hue that follows the dark withdrawn.

diamond, rainbow, impart, love, red bosom, impart

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

285

Will Ogilvie

Barley-Grass

Green fields there are in Scotland of rye-grass and of clover, but there are richer pastures that I have ridden over, wide leagues of waving

rains, harvest, sky, whispers, die, stalks

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

287

Will Ogilvie

A Wind From The West

The wind that fires the blood came leaping in from Westward, over stone and stake and stud, with the roar of reeling dust-wrack

incense, trains, honours, sea, kiss

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

288

Will Ogilvie

The New Moon

"New Moon tonight!" you will bear them say, turning their eyes to the glint of gold; but this, as you know is their quaint little way- for the Moon she is centuries old!

sky, eager, foam, steers, silvery, sail

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

290

Will Ogilvie

The Garden Of Night

The Night is a far spreading garden and all through the hours glisten and glitter and sparkle her wonderful flowers. First the great moon-rose full blooming the great bed of stars

flowers, towers, thief, lighthouse, season, cliff, poisonous

Saddle For A Throne

FC 11 O-13

291

Will Ogilvie

A Summer Evening

Dusk o' the night comes down like wings; Silent are birds that the day found blithe, the soft low breeze of evening brings the far-off chime of hone on scythe.

moon, drone, dusk, alone