Poems by B W HALL
MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN
EARLY LIGHT WITHIN THE DAWN THE MIST IT DOES LAY LOW
MAKING SILHOUETTES OF TREES INTO A GHOSTLY GLOW
ON A COLD AND MISTY MORN THEY’RE BUT STOOD A SINGLE ROO
AS YELLOW CRESTED COCKATOOS FLY TO SKIES OF BLUE
ECHO'S OF TIMBER BEING SPLIT DO TRAVEL UPON THE BREEZE
BRUMBY'S MOVE ALONG THE RIDGE RACING ALL ABOUT THE TREES
SOUNDS OF HOOVES STRIKING STONE UPON THE RIDGES SPINE
THUNDERING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FORGED TO FORM A RAGGED LINE
THE AIR IS SPLIT WITH THE CRACK OF WHIPS AS IF OF RIFLE FIRE
FOR IN MY BARK HUT IS WHERE I LIVE AS IT BE OF MY DESIRE
BILLY SITS WITH LID REMOVED ON COALS THAT BURN SO BRIGHT
CURTAINS MADE FROM HESSIAN BAGS STRUNG UP TO SHADE THE LIGHT
STRINGY BARK TURNED INTO RAFTERS HOLD UP THE ROOF OF TIN
WALLS BE BUILT FROM RED GUM TREES WITH SLATES THEY BE SO THIN
MORNING LIGHT IT BE SO BRIGHT DOES SNEAK BENEATH THE DOOR
GOLDEN LIGHT OF DAYS NEW DAWN DOES CREEP ACROSS THE FLOOR
DANCING SMOKE WITHIN THE LIGHT IT GLIDES AROUND THE ROOM
FRAGRANT SCENT OF THE NATIVE FLORA GHOST GUMS FULL OF BLOOM
HUNTSMAN SPIDER REST ON LOG FEELING WARMTH BENEATH THE SUN
DEW DROP FALLS ON WINDOW PANE FOR DOWN GLASS IT RUN
CURRAWONGS SOUND GREET THE DAY AS TO LEAVE ITS MORNING CALL
MOUNTAIN ASH WITH FLOWERS WHITE DO STAND WITH TREES SO TALL
MUSK BUSH DAISY WITH BLANKET LEAF AND TREE FERNS GATHER ROUND
SILVER WATTLE GOLD IN FLOWER BELOW THE ASH BE FOUND
MUSIC PLAYS WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN AS WIND FLOWS THROUGH THE TREES
SWEET AND SILENT SOUNDS OF NATURE DOES FLOAT WITHIN THE BREEZE
SOUNDS OF AUSTRALIAN MANY NATIVE BIRDS AND LIFE UPON THE GROUND
TUNES FOR ALL LIFE’S COMPOSERS TO BRING LIFE TO A BRIGHT NEW SOUND
OCTAVES THAT ARE ONLY HEARD IN GREAT OPERA’S ACROSS OUR LAND
SOUNDS THAT BRING LOVE TO ALL AUSTRALIAN’S AND LIFE TO MANY MAN
OUR LANDS GREAT PEOPLE DID BUT HEAR OF SOUNDS IN DREAMING TIME’S
RAINBOW SNAKE IN ALL Its COLOURS TELLS TALES WITHIN ITS RHYME’S
RIPPLE’S THEY CIRCLE ACROSS A POND AS IN A TUNING FORKS FINE TUNE
HEART AND SOUL OF THIS GREAT LAND DOSE’S BEAT BENEATH OUR MOON
WHISPERS OF SILENCE FOR ALL TO HEAR ASCENDS TO CLOUDS ABOVE
IN THE MORNING LIGHT SOUNDS OF LIFE ARE FULL OF LIFE’S SWEET LOVE
TO SIT SO STILL IN SILENCE AND HEAR NATURE’S LIFE THAT ALL AROUND
AUSTRALIA’S SOFT AND SWEET SOUNDS OF LIFE AS ITS BEAUTY IS ABOUND
THE MAJESTIC MUSIC OF A LYREBIRD WITH ITS SOUNDS OF MANY ARRAY
NIGHTS ARE STILL WITH SILENCE AS NATURE REST HER WEARY WAY
SILVER ASH WITH MOUNTAIN FERNS TWISTED BRANCHES MAKE UP A BED
SOFT AND SILKY MOSS ON ROCKS COLORED BLUEY GREEN WITH RED
ASK YOUR SELF EACH AND ALL OF US IS THERE REALLY A GOD ABOVE
IF THERE NOT A GOD IN HEAVEN THEN WHO MADE THIS LAND WE LOVE
B W HALL 2008
THIS LAND I LOVE
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WERE GOING WE ONLY KNOW WHERE WE; VE BEEN
FROM TIME ON EARTH WHEN WE WHERE BORN TO ALL THE THINGS BETWEEN
TO STOP AND THINK OF ALL THE FRIENDS YOU HAVE MET ALONG THE WAY
FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE AND TO ALL THE THINGS WE'D SAY
TO HAVE A FRIEND LIKE YOU WHO CARES AND UNDERSTANDS
ONE THAT STOPS AND LISTENS OF MY TALES ACROSS THESE LANDS
FROM WAY UP NORTH TO QUEENS LAND I GO DROVING WITH THE MOB
AS TO STAY FOR MONTHS BEHIND THE RANGES IN DUST IT BE MY JOB
TO HEAD OUT WEST WITHIN THE HEAT AS ITS SHEEP THAT I DO SHEAR
FOR TO END A DAY WITH SHEARER'S MATES TO STOP AND DOWN A BEER
OR TELL A TALE OF THE MANY A FRIEND IVE MADE ACROSS THIS LAND
SWAGGY WALTZING ALONG A ROAD OR A BUSHRANGER WHO MADE A STAND
PICTURE SHOW MAN WHO SHOWS HIS FILMS TO TOWNS ALONG HIS WAY
STATION HAND AND SHEARER'S COOK WHOM WORK HARD FROM DAY TO DAY
OUTBACK DRIFTER WITH CATTLE DOG HE DOES WALK OUR WINDING ROAD
BULLOCK TEAM IN THE MORNING MIST WITH RAIN ON HEAVY LOAD
TEAMSTER CRACKS HIS WHIP AS TO MAKE HIS BULLOCKS STRAIN
DROVER WITH HORSE SMEAR IN MUD DO TRAVEL WITHIN THE RAIN
BALES OF WOOL STACKED SO HIGH TO RUSTLE BLUE GUMS LEAVES
SULPHUR CRESTED COCKATOO’S SET FLIGHT WITH IN THE BREEZE
CREEKS THEY FLOW OVER RUGGED ROCKS BY SHADE OF WILLOW TREES
FLOWERS BLOOM WITH MANY A COLOUR THEIR JOINED BY NATIVE BEES
RICHES THEY ARE SPREAD ACROSS OUR LAND WITH WONDERS EVERYWHERE
AS TO LIVE THIS LIFE THAT I DO LIVE IS TO LIVE LIFE WITHOUT MUCH CARE
THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I AM SENT TO THAT GREAT STATION IN THE SKY
ALONG THE ROAD A DRIFTER WILL SAY FOR THEY NEW THIS WONDERFUL GUY
IF ITS YOU OR ME THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THEN WE KNOW THEY DID BUT CARE
WHEN I AM DEAD AND BURIED FOR IT’S THOSE MEMORIES THEY DO BUT SHARE
I WILL THANK THE MAKER WHO MADE THIS LAND AND GIVE THE MAKER A CHEER
FOR ME AND MAKER WILL TALK FOR HOURS AND I’LL SHOUT OUR MAKER A BEER
B W HALL 2008
JUST A PICTURE
PICTURE HANGS ON WALL IN ROOM
DARK IN LIGHT SHADES OF GLOOM
FLACKY PAINT OF DAYS GONE BY
DUST ON TOP STILL AND DRY
PHOTO FADED CRACKS SO FINE
AGED MEMORIES ONCE DEVINE
TIMBERS SPLIT IN SHEARER'S SHED
NAILS IN POSTS RUST ON HEAD
LIGHT FROM WINDOW CORNER BRIGHT
DARKNESS HIDES IN BLACK OF NIGHT
FLOOR OF WOOL FLEECE OF SHEEP
SHEAR TODAY NIGHT FOR SLEEP
SCENT OF OIL SOAKED IN FLOOR
COAT OF MATE HANGS ON DOOR
BOTTLE CAP ON VERANDAH LAY
WORK SO HARD DRINK ALL DAY
TOBACKY POUCH IN WAIT ON RAIL
BILLY TIN LAY ON EMBERS PALE
SHEARER, COOK, AND SHEARER'S MATE
B W HALL 2008
CLOWN
T
O SAVE A PENNY OUR PULL A RED POUNDFOR LAUGH IF YOU MUST IM ONLY A CLOWN
YOU SEE ME THIS WAY I KNOW IT IS JUST
AS TO MAKE ME A QUID I KNOW IT I MUST
JUDGE ME THIS WAY ALL COLORED IN PAINT
KNOW WHO I AM SO SMALL AND SO QUAINT
FAMILY BE FOUR TWO CHILDREN SO SWEET
WIFE AT THE DOOR CLOWN SHE DOES GREET
THE TEAR ON MY CHEEK IS PAINTED TO WEEP
I TAKE OFF MY MAKEUP OUR LOVE IS SO DEEP
BE PROUD WHO YOU ARE AS LIFE IS BUT TIME
CLOWN YOU DO PLAY DEAR HUSBAND OF MINE
B W HALL 2008
BOOTS OF PAIN
DON’T ASK ME WHO I AM IT’S A TALE TO HARD TO TELL
FOR IF YOU ASK ME WHO I AM I’LL DESCRIBE THIS LIFE OF HELL
BEING BORN OF PARENT POOR WITH FOOD SO HARD TO FIND
HUT THEY BUILT OF TIMBERS FOUND WITH LOVE UPON THEIR MIND
CRADLE WEAVED IN BRANCH OF WILLOW ALL STAINED IN SHADES OF GREEN
SMELL OF SMOKE, WHICH FILLS OUR HUT, AS GHOSTLY SHAPES BE SCENE
DANCING GHOSTS THEY FILL THIS HUT TO LEAVE A STRANGE BELIEF
NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY WANT FROM ME DOES FILL MY LIFE WITH GRIEF
IRON DRAGON WITH LEGS OF FOUR AS FLAMES IT BREATHES OF GOLD
EVERY NIGHT THIS DRAGONS FIRE DOES WARM THIS HUT SO COLD
BROTHERS FIVE ALL SHARE A ROOM WITH BEDS THERE BE BUT TWO
CURTIN MADE FROM HEASEN BAGS DO COVER THESE WINDOWS FEW
MORNINGS MIST DOES SHROUD THE LAND WITH SHADOWS OF CATTLE FAR
THE BREAK OF DAWN WITHIN THE MIST DOES FADE A LONELY STAR
A RAY OF LIGHT DOES PEARCE THE TIMBERS TO POINT UPON THE FLOOR
IT POINTS TO WHERE MY BOOTS DO LIE JUST BESIDE THE DOOR
AS I PLACE MY FEET INSIDE THESE BOOTS I CAN FEEL MY FATHER PAIN
A PAIN WHICH TRAVELS UP MY SPINE AND ACHES WITHIN MY BRAIN
BOOTS, OF WHICH I WEAR IN PRIDE FOR THEY WHERE MY DADS IN WAR
MANY TALES THESE BOOTS CAN TELL AND FOR ALL THE THING THEY SAW
THE PICTURE FLASHES SCENES OF WAR AS MANY MEN LAY ALL ABOUT
FIELDS BE STAINED OF BLOOD IN SOIL FOR IN PAIN THEY DO BUT SHOUT
SCREAMS OF FEAR ARE ALL I HEAR AS THEIR ORDERS CAME DOWN THE WIRE
PHOTO’S SOAKED WITH TEARS OF BLOOD BENEATH SOUNDS OF RIFLE FIRE
THEY PREY O LORD PLEASE TAKE US HOME TO OUR FAMILY’S WE LEFT BEHIND
MEMORIES OF OUR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHERE ALWAYS ON THEIR MIND
THEIR FEAR LIVES INSIDE THESE BOOTS NOW I PLACE THOSE BOOTS IN LINE
THEY SAY IT’S WAS THE WAR TO END ALL WARS TILL MY WAR IN THIRTY NINE
B W HALL 2008