Kevin Fairbrother Poet Verse

The Pain of Drought

The Pain of Drought

By

Kevin L Fairbrother



The road trains full of emancipated cattle roar by

Heading south to somewhere that is lush and green

For the big dry out west as tightened it’s grip

As the dry westerly winds lay the paddocks bare

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The cows they roar and moan and stamp their feet

At the struggling calves that lay dying in the dirt and dust

The Kites on high circle the scene of death and dying

As the mothers walk away they dive bomb the carcasses

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The cattle cluster round the dwindling water holes and shade

Their skeleton clearly visible held together by skin and bone

The heat so intense they endure .. together with the millions of flies

A scene so horrendous you just cant help the tears in your eyes

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The lean and tall farmer looks over his dying herd of cattle

And wonders why mother nature can be so bloody cruel

I’ve nurtured these cows from birth, they are my pride and joy

And to watch this scene of my dying stock… Mate it hurts

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To bloody late to shift this lot off,  he says out loud

I must end their suffering as quickly as I can

He heads to the Toyota to fetch his gun

Walks back to the herd with a tear and a heavy heart

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With an anguished look and tears in his eye, he fires his gun

As the last one falls he looks on with pain etched on his brow

I best bury them deeply before the night falls

And heads to the homestead to fetch the machinery

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As he drives he mumbles to himself the bloody politicians don’t care

And the city folk, well it’s outa sight outa mind with them

They can rest easy in their homes and comfortable beds

Whilst I toss and turn with mind racing of how to survive this devastation.

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He returns to the macabre scene of blood, bodies and gore

The Kites in their thousands lift off from the bodies of the cattle

He digs a large hole and buries them deeply as night falls

And hopes that he doesn't have to repeat the process with the stock that’s left.

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The farmer heads home and is greeted by his wife at the door

He sobs in her arms and she says… I’m so sorry but it had to be done

We will look to the new day and hope the drought breaks

Knowing that Mother Nature will always have her way

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