Long Shearers Poems

I joined the graduation of a stupid situation
where everyone bar one was quite a grinner.
We put on our jester hat to knock one fella’ flat;
which didn’t mean that we turned out a winner.

He was different...

Read More

Oh cripes I’ve gotta tell yer of a horror ride I had,
	That beat any bronc or bull I’ve rode, and I must say I’m glad,
	I’ll never have to ride like that, again to hold me...

Read More

“And you call yourself a bloody cook”, this mongrel shearer said.
“I oughta ram this rubbish down yer’ throat, it’ll kill a bloke stone dead.”
He’s talking ‘bout the stew I burnt, which I hoped he couldn’t...

Read More

Too, the wives of shearers, drovers and the teamsters of the day 
fought the months of isolation while their husbands were away. 
Still they kept the home-fires burning and would do the many chores, 
just...

Read More

The yards behind the shearing shed are overgrown with grass
And the fence posts look a little worse for wear
There’s cobwebs on the tractors that are sitting all forlorn
And a farm cat snoozes gently on a...

Read More

scientists claim climate change is inevitable
the world is changing
way too fast
and some can't handle the strain
the entitled millennial me generation
are sculpting society
embracing artificial intelligence
and cybernetics in their pursuit of immortality
sometimes sheep put their trust in...

Read More

I'll bet this set of rusty shears have a story they could tell,
of the loneliness and broken backs in a land that's hot as hell,
where hopes and dreams mirrored lives that these shearers led,
here among...

Read More

 Aub
Aubrey Gordon Joseph Mc'Govern 
by Don Johnson... 
he was born in 1895 to a land so different then, 
one of three boys born at Brenda station, 
near to Hebel up the river near the...

Read More

This vetted and fully fettered minute 
 has been supplied by Time-Ex
 - Even before you know it, it's gone

This beautiful garden escape,
 sponsored by the Next apple products 
 Ijuice - A refreshing way...

Read More

He chose to live a simple life,
So important was his mission!
Though around him corruption was rife
He never yielded to temptation!
He would cure a serious ailment
But think of no emolument!

He taught: "You must do unto others
As...

Read More

A phosphorus attack
                                ...

Read More

Waltzing Shearer

Out near Dagworth Station during 1894
Where the Waltzing Matilda, Swagman drowned,
Cos he liked them lamb chops nicely browned,
He was only eating the Masters sheep, scoffing em down,
Disgusting said Squatters and frowned, some more,
In 1894,...

Read More

It’s shearing time again
My husband has to go
Back to the boards again
To make us all some dough.

He walks out the front door
Lets out a quiet moan
And gathers up his cutters
Tool box & his wide combs.

The...

Read More

Scabs in Australian history
The Labor Party came from the early Shearers strike, 1900s,
 where Unions fought for and got fair wages for the workers.
Later in the 1950s the Shearers had trouble with SCABS.
The Australian National...

Read More

Integrity

I suppose you think it’s all worthwhile,
To crawl to the rich, if that’s your style,
To swing your vote, left, right and center,
On a whim, just hit enter.
Just a touch of bile, don’t bleat.

If you were...

Read More

Barcaldine, Tree of Knowledge

One hundred and seventy years ago,
The shearers had enough you know,
Of working for almost nothing, then,
Decided to form a Union, bend !
The master to cough up a quid or so?
We all got...

Read More

Illusions are smoke and mirrors;
the sky's black, and yet, we see blue.
And like sheep, we're led by shearers
whose reality blocks our view.

Flashing neon propositions
youth as the city lures with lights.
And the lambs rush to the...

Read More

Class distinction is always with us,
Dollars are important to the rich,
Jobs went offshore in the 60s ,
Cheaper overseas, for the greedy rich,
In the 50s, scabs were brought in,
To force the shearers wages down,
Black listed were...

Read More

Alone again and on the road,
Walking with the dusty toed,
Me swag on a back almost bowed,
An outcast me I wonder?

To get a fair wage yes we fought,
From daylight to dark six days for ought,
A slave...

Read More

Low He laid, Jesus Christ
Still upon the hay.
Not a word from Him they heard
As all looked down that day.

High He hung, Jesus Christ
Still upon the cross.
Not a word from Him they heard
As all looked up,...

Read More

Uncle Les

My step grandfather was uncle Les,
Gun shearer of wooly sheep, he was,
Travelled the country, yes I says,
 and at crutching, He was beaut,    

false teeth of gold his mouth did hold,
just...

Read More

Living in a world of diminished dreams,
we're no longer encouraged to think big.
Conformity is all the rage, it seems,
and cops have reached the status of a pig.

Few folks care if elections are run fair,
for democracy...

Read More