Grizzled, a face etched with creases
So alike this drought ravaged landscape.
He speaks few words
Standing at the gate
His sheep milling around.
He’s a picture of concentration
Particular beasts to select.
He shouts orders
Barker responds, dashers here and there
Nipping, corralling, non-stop,
In response to his orders.
I am mesmerised by this relationship
City boy ignorant of country ways
‘How many sheep have to got?’
‘Have to count em’
‘How?’
‘Count their legs and divide by four.’
Message delivered
I know, shut up and watch.
Barker circles,
He barks, the farmer barks,
Together they win
The sheep for market selected.
The farmer pats Barker
He looks out over his barren farm
Sits beside me, sighs,
‘It’s a hard game.’
Written for: http://dversepoets.com/2014/02/27/meetingthebar-character-matters/
Morpethroad 
it is def a hard game…so much of the farmers life is dependent on the forces of nature…for the crops and for the livestock…i like how you relate him to the landscape…i think many a farmer might fit that…that barker is probably his best friend…and for an outsider that relationship with the barker, with the land, with the livestock…probably hard to understand but can be pretty amazing to watch.
Oh for sure Brian an education I can assure you. Thanks so much for your comment. I hope the kids are treating you well.
A hard life for sure. You captured it and the farmer and his dog. I well rehearsed duo. Well done Michael.
Thank you Jackie I appreciate your comment as always.
Captured the farmer and his faithful work dog well, I feel for our farmers now having to shoot their stock as they can’t survive with the drought. Very nice my friend.
Thank you Jenny, it is a hard life sometimes.
Ah yes, you have handled it well – life is a hard game at times, after all.
Thank you so much appreciate your comment.
I love the vision of a sheep farm, the hard work, and the dutiful faithful dog!
Thanks Katy, I appreciate your comment.
I’m amazed at how a sheep dog becomes an extension of the sheep rancher’s will. Very cool poem
Thank you so much Bryan, I appreciate you commenting.
Our farmers certainly are doing it tough. They need rain, and lots of it. They also need the two major supermarkets to pay them a decent amount for their products. Greed – it’s a terrible thing.
Thanks Lyn, yes life on the land is touch especially in Queensland at present. I am hoping some of the rain we are receiving today gets out to the properties that need it most.
I particularly like the wry humor in the dialogue.. it captures so much of what a farmer’s life.. working in loneliness.. and sometimes more atune with his dog than a strangar… (at least my image of it.)…
Thanks Bjorn yes you right so often it can feel like that.
Great piece. Reminds me of the years I lived in Singleton and used to travel out to visit friends and family. Long drive between Singleton and Maryborough and then Maryborough and Darwin – and a huge variety in lifestyles. Some farmers, some truckers, some avid vegie and mango growers… Cattle farmer. We used to use the farming dogs to track down stray Buffalo in the north when we went out hunting to protect to land.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
ML
x
Hi Lou thanks for your comment I can well understand how this strikes memories for you. This is based on a real life character I knew when I lived in the bush.
It sounds like it came from a genuine knowledge. Great piece Michael.
Thanks Lou.
My ancestors were shepherds (sheep farmers is perhaps too grand a word for what they did), so I really appreciated this poem. Love the character – very vivid!
Thanks so much Marina, for that comment. I guess we all had ancestors involved in rural pursuits. Mine were potato farmers.
Oh, lovely. ‘Count their legs and divide by four’ yes, that’s the perfect way of saying shut up, without saying it. I get the sense that the farmer is crusty on the outside, but just a man, just a human like the rest of us, on the inside. I can feel the drought from here.
Thanks Freya, yes some parts of the country are in severe drought though we have some rain at present and I hope some gets to where it is needed. Have a good day.
Count their legs and divide by four . . . absolutely love that. Really enjoyed this piece.
Thank you Kathryn, it did actually happen like that. Please call again.
You’ve captured 3 characters in 1 poem! Nice work. I also like the “Count their legs and divide by four” line. The farmer has a sense of humor. Peace, Linda
Thanks Linda yes underneath the gruffness was a heart of gold.
I like that both bark out orders. you paint a nice picture and characters.
Thank you so much, please call again.
Nice! Like how you developed this…and you brought the whole story so alive with the dialogue.
Ah thank you Georgia, I am so pleased you enjoyed this little view into Australia .
ach…your little temptations between you and Leanne Cole, Australia is becoming one of those dream places one would like to see before the passing! 😉
Come on down Georgia, we are on the whole ok sort of people.
Well…that I’ve seen! It’s the journey that blocks me to tell the truth…so very long!
Ah come on a young at heart girl like you, nothing is impossible.
Ach…the heart is willing…it’s the back and knees that get cranky! (LOL)
Know how you feel.
! still…
a game we all rely on.
good working dogs have an amazing relationship with their farmer don’t they
Yes Lucy they do it is amazing to watch them working together. Thank you for your comment.
enjoyed reading this
Thank you so much.