Long Cantered Poems

Medieval Poem V

A Proverb from Winfred's Time
anonymous Old English poem, circa 757-786
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

1.
The procrastinator puts off purpose,
never initiates anything marvelous,
never succeeds, and dies alone.

2.
The late-deed-doer delays glory-striving,
never indulges daring dreams,
never succeeds,...

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Winter Awakens My Care
anonymous Middle English poem, circa 1300
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Winter awakens all my care
as leafless trees grow bare.
For now my sighs are fraught
whenever it enters my thought:
regarding this world's joy,
how everything...

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The Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem and The Riming Poem
Old English Poem (i.e., Anglo-Saxon Poem) from the Exeter Book, ca. 990 AD
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

He who granted me life created this sun
and...

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The Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem and The Riming Poem - Part II
anonymous Old English Poem from the Exeter Book, circa 990 AD
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

He who granted me life created this...

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JOE WHITE

Back in 1880 you will find, Joe White he was about.
The Brumby runner master mind. Of this I'll leave no doubt.
He took from Mugan station, 600 Brumbies yes my friend.
Had the best riders of...

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Back in 1880 you will find, Joe White he was about.
The brumby runner master mind. Of this I'll leave no doubt.
He took from Mugan station, 600 brumbies yes my friend.
Had the best riders of the...

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There are Guineas that live in America
Guineas that live in a zoo
But the craziest, zaniest guineas of all
Are the ones that reside in Peru

It is said that they live in the Andes
And on weekends they...

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A sheriff I was in a small town,
seen fifty years, and earned no renown,
when Black Ken and his gang did come down
to Mick Callahan’s big saloon.

He saw I was the only law here,
saw in my...

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Sam came from Bollon on the Wallan S.W.Queensland Aus.

Sam Mc Croon came from Bollon soon
When he heard about old Galoon the Batey
 She was big an a Ox light in her sox
And she loved her...

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Destroyer ~ Poet
Contest Name	5TH POEM ON THE SOUP..
POISON! 1st first.
I was coming up from Tamworth, riding on a tired horse. 
Past Barraba we wandered north, on a slow and dusty course.
 Near Barraba I drew...

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By the side of the loch some boys at play, when into their midst there came
A beautiful white and riderless horse with a long and flowing mane

A redheaded boy jumped up on its back, a...

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Hank had cowboyed on the Triple T Ranch fer nigh on fifty years.
He'd rode the range herdin' beef peerin' betwixt his hoss's ears.
Durin' cattle stampedes he'd broke bones and many a time was throwed,
And he'd...

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Mulga Snakeyes

Yes we went a Droving on the job 
As we rode around the mob 
With the cattle, 
just to earn our bit of pay
with Uncle Charlie, to earn a bob
a watching watching of 
watching...

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Old Star stood in the horse pad-dock so dry,
with the others he'd just been run in.
The Manager gave orders, he now had to die, 
the Jackaroo's job was to kill him.

Brown Star was Tuppy's favourite...

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Cap’n Thunderbolt

The moon stood out 
Any traps about  
Cap’n Thunderbolt did ask
He was on the road again 
Brown snake for break-in-fast

The Drover said they went way north 
Blacktracker with em eh
Following your week old...

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I called my mother the other day- just to listen to her voice
She answered dear Steve – yes this is me- how are you this day
I said I was fine- it has been some time-...

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Drongo Leery

Riding on old drongo Leery, 
poor old bugger, ticks n lice,
Dodging Traps, Police n Troopers,
Catch a racehorse would be nice.

Robbed a fellow down the river ,
Had no money, he was nice,
Didn’t have no dung...

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Aboriginal Graveyard 1953…Dirranbandi

Totem trees, were said by some,
The burial sites inside the gum,
Old box tree was a hollow one,                ...

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Acrotic?
Bored, I got sunburnt,
Evidently, I learnt,
Across the road ,
Cantered cane toads, 
Henry thought it’s fine,
Bull mastiff Jerry Hog's,
Laugh's at every bodies dogs,
A growling all the time .
No body wore their togs,
Kangaroos were banned,
Elisa sat and...

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My Old Saddle
Like a heavy rose in silver and leather
Every stitch a life, thirty-three pounds,
In cow hide, veined by fields 
In the foothills of Alberta,
Reined and grained by waving wheat,
Watered by a woodland creek,
Nourished by...

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Ride a Speckled Horse

Half Moon Bay
A little speckled grey
How unwilling you were
But I'd rented you that day

No cajoling and no show of force
Could lift your heart to run
Weren't you  used- to-
always being, abused by...

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There we were - Alf and I - Pharaohs,
surveying those white pyramids -
Nests of ibis - ovulating - 
Opera.

Across the bridge we danced,
Swaying o'er the waves below - 
Spectred lovers on a phantom ship -
Drifting...

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BERSHEBA BATTLE  W.W.1

Horses sensed the coming battle,
Heard sabres rattling to be free.
Fed a nose bag of oats, and the rattle, 
Of bayonets on the rifles, old Brumby
Off they are now, at a good trot....

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Emo-esque tales of Razors slitting the cord
My spirit is tainted like an Ouija board

Arching Daemons summoned my name,
at the belly of Hell's burning wave.
In tune with the wind's shrieking fame,
The Moon was hung on my...

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The fancy carnival carousel caught my eye
Twelve wooden horses went prancing on by
I clambered on one, and enjoyed a horse ride
But when I had to dismount, oh how I cried!

When Mama and Papa tucked me...

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