Long Hobbles Poems

The sound of a piano playing a dirge lies in the air. It was the day before general quarantine measures were implemented by the Austrian government. That same night, for the first time in recent...

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Soldiers marched, upright and ready
Bayonet's pointed, their hand at the steady
The town folk feared what was at hand
They were simple folks, working the land

The soldiers carted away those who could work
On trains they went, when...

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Our Mate Charlie Brummell
Yes mate we went a droving back in nineteen fifty eight, 
The drovers cook was pretty rough, he couldn`t wash a plate. 
Hector he was fifty two, when he burnt our damper...

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Thence they come, these thoughts again
As I brood, on mind thus dimmed
Fraught with doubt, crossed by light
Naught but rout, mine sublime such night

Shall I muse on love or war
Fall on fuse or seek Paramour

Laugh or...

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I moved up on the outside to pass Bold Eclipse 
when this poncy young jockey bloke puckered his lips. 
Well I kicked well away and I picked up the pace 
and a divot of turf...

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Pretty girl slithers through the fields                             ...

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Meanwhile, Mrs. Pappadopoulos
has circled back and plops down
on Fred's front porch, all tuckered out
 
So Fred cheerfully pulls up a chair
and together they sit and stare
openly ogling, gawking, gaping
because, as everyone knows-
it's not considered staring
if...

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Time to be respectable
I live in two homes in my mind
I’m both Frida and Diego
Like me, they lived in Twin Houses
The tortured me lives in the blue one
The elephant in the red and white
The one...

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Done Droving
The sliprails are down the horses are gone ,………(sliprails slide in rail gate in rail yard)
goose neck spurs all covered in rust.
My Quartpot is bent i`ve left the Ballonne…(Quartpot holds a quart of water...

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My hubby let the dogs out and sprained his ankle on the step.
Then for days he hobbled around on that foot, stubborn yet.
Definitely not getting better I got him a crutch at the store.
For twelve...

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The End of Love

A secret grief rips apart all that was
Slaves to the sexual caresses of time
Stallions in black gallop gallantly in fields
Of spring full wishes
Thou seeith the birth of love
Naked hopes surrounded by sweet...

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1930s Dirranbandi as mum Nelly says

In the town of Dirranbandi near the Cubbie cotton farm
was sea of Wilga trees with their dark green leafy charm
the Goats ate green Wilga standing on their back legs 
(...

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I do not like this growing old; no, not one bit.
I much prefer how things were when I was 
Younger, say 40 or 50 at a pinch.
Back then, things worked and moved 
Without complaint, and...

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Cattle Drive

Roll over a bit in me swag
Get some bones clear of the ground
Dew is on us swag cover is wet
Dingo is howling around

The cattle are camped in the corner 
The frogs are croaking, smile...

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I feel the rage burning from your eyes
As you strike me with your kitchen tool
It's that devil in you I despise
Your vicious tirade smacks me most cruel
Wishes won't expunge your gruff disguise
Even as we square...

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My old gran had an ice cream van
And a bright green cape and a madcap plan
She’s out to save her fellow man
And with her walking frame, she can

Each night she prowls the felon’s range
Disturbing owls...

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dizzy spaces lie stretched between us,
leagues of empty land,
desert, the boundless impassive seas -
it may as well be an eternity...

we dwell in different worlds, you and I, segregated 
by age, by colour, by culture
your voice...

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The first time I saw her
My heart got the wobbles
I could smell her perfume -
My knees got the hobbles

She was walkin' my way
My breathin' got labored
She was wearin' blue jeans
That I've always favored

She said, "You're...

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Kublia burrows into the snow
eating it is he goes
A hop, a skip, another sloppy lick
Fun fun fun snow is such a kick

Genghis peers out the door
sniffs the air and wants no more
This cold white stuff...

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The death of winter carries varied sights.
In April, when dandelions roar, “It’s Spring!”
green yards transform by magic overnight.
Gramps had sprayed his lawn, but in ours weeds bring
an old game for kids as they dance and...

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Shuffle shuffle 
Hands shake as he pulls a stack of papers from his pocket
Shuffle shuffle
He finds a crumpled piece and reads the numbers inscribed
Shuffle shuffle go his feet as he hobbles to a pay phone
Just...

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There was a little Nubian;
The kids just called her Split.
Banana was her mama, and
She looked like her a bit.

One day Split caught a nasty bug,
A mean old parasite.
It nearly took the poor girl out;
few thought...

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According to the local reports
The 24 hr. ATM on Main Street 
Opened on time again forever
Today and every day as predicted
Aint fake news great in America

They also say at 11:00 am the ATM went missing
Jack...

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In my home
There is a child bursting with potential
Who's mind lays softly on a pretty face
Plays games whilst conversing with friends
Who's elegant eyes exude excellent taste

In my home
Their is a cat mostly sleeping
Who bothers for...

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Zeke and His Old Lady Ride Again

By Elton Camp

Men trembled when Zeke appeared
In his black leather jacket and beard

When he and his gang rode into town,
Why, even the sheriff would back down

His defiant look and...

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