Droving Dawn, so stirs the sleeping camp, So starts the drovers day, Now breakfast by the firelight glow, Then move the mob away. The cook has long since been astir, We don’t know when he rests, So when his humour’s wearing thin, We leave him from our jests. The tailer’s run the horses in So now there’s no delay, We roll our swags then saddle up And move the mob away. |
2. Just string them slowly off the camp, Don’t let them go too fast, The boss is stationed at the lead To count them going past. A thousand head he has in charge And there must never be Some careless, unaccounted loss When comes delivery. While later while he goes ahead To plot a nightly camp, We’ll poke them on through dust and heat, Or maybe in the damp. The wagonette bumps slowly by With cook and all his wares, While jogging closely at the rear, The tailer with the spares. |
3. We’ll graze them slowly on to camp Near closing of the day, Then gather round the open fire And yarn some time away. Night, so ends another day But duty cannot slack, Two men will ride and watch all night, To poke the stragglers back. But if perchance some sudden scare, Should make them rush tonight, (One instant puts the mob afoot In swift and awesome flight.) |
4. Such will test the drovers skill, Albeit his courage too, To let the nighthorse have its head And ride the danger through. For he must swiftly reach the lead And wheel them from a wing, To turn them round inside the tail, To make the bullock’s ring. So now to get them settled down Before the break of day, Then breakfast by the firelight’s glow, And - move the mob away. Clarry Dunstan |
Back to
Clarry
Dunstan Verse Summary |
Back to
Rodd's
Gallery
|