The Riding Of The Rebel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBAACC DDEEFFGH IIJ KKC LLMMGGNO PPFFAAQQ RREECCHH SSTTUUL P RRDDVV AAGGWWOO MXPPJ

He was the Red Creek overseer a trusted man and trueA
Whose shoulder never left the wheel when there was work to doA
Through all the day he rode the run and when the lights grew dimB
The sweetest wife that ever loved would wait and watch for himB
She brought him dower of golden hair and eyes of laughing blueA
Stout heart and cunning bridle hand to guide the mulga throughA
And when the mob was mustered from the box flats far and wideC
She loved to mount the wildest colts that no one else would rideC
-
And once it chanced a wayward steed half mouthed and roughly brokeD
Denied the touch of gentle hand and gentler words she spokeD
And plunging forward like the ship that feels the autumn galesE
He reared and lost his footing and fell backwards on the railsE
Her husband bent above her with cold terror at his heartF
The form was still he loved so well the wan lips would not partF
And all the day in trance she lay but when the stars smiled downG
He heard his name low whispered and he claimed her still his ownH
-
And afterwards he spoke his fear 'Heart's love if you should dieI
Unless you take our orders from some other man than II
You shall never finger bridle never mount on horse's backJ
Till the outlaw on Glenidol is a broken lady's hack '-
There's an outlaw on Glenidol that is known through all the WestK
And three men's lives are on his head bold riders of the bestK
The station lads have heard the sneer that travelled far and wideC
And flung the answering challenge 'Come and teach us how to ride '-
-
Roll up ye merry riders all whose honour is to guardL
We've mustered up the ranges and the Rebel's in the yardL
His open mouth and stamping foot and keen eye flashing fireM
Repeat the temper of his dam the mettle of his sireM
Roll up ye merry riders all from hut and camp and townG
You'll have to stick like plaster when the stockyard rails go downG
But the boss will come down handsome as the boss is wont to comeN
To the first who brings The Rebel under spurs and greenhide homeO
-
And the stockmen heard the challenge from the Cooper to the BreeP
And rode from hut and cattle camp by one and two and threeP
To keep their horseman's honour clean and play a hero's partF
To best the bold Glenidol boys and break The Rebel's heartF
And Ruddy Neil the breaker from the Riverine came throughA
With all the latest breaking gear and all the wiles he knewA
But ere the saddle was secured before a girth was drawnQ
The Rebel's forefoot split his skull they buried him at dawnQ
-
Marora Mick the half caste from the Flinders River cameR
To give the South the Border boys a lesson at the gameR
But he got a roguish welcome when he entered New South WalesE
For The Rebel used his blood and brains to paint the stockyard railsE
And Mulga Jack came over from the Yuinburra sideC
The horse was never foaled they say that Mulga could not rideC
With a mouth as hard as a miser's heart a will like the Devil's ownH
The Rebel made for the Stony Range with the man who wouldn't be thrownH
-
The Rebel made for the Stony Range where the plain and the scrub land meetS
And the dead boughs cracked at his shoulder blade the stones leapt under his feetS
And the ragged stems of the gidyeas cut and tore as they blundered pastT
And Jack lay cold in the sunset gold he had met with his match at lastT
And once again the challenge rang the bitterer for scornU
And spoke the bold Glenidol boys their jackets mutlga tornU
'A week have we been hunting him and riding fast and hardL
To give you all another chance The Rebel's in the yard '-
-
And the stockmen heard the challenge from the Cooper to the BreeP
But 'I'm getting old ' 'I'm getting stiff ' or 'I've a wife you see '-
Came whispered to the border and the horse they could not tameR
Had saved Glenidol from disgrace and cleansed a sullied nameR
But ere the reddening sun went down and night on the ranges brokeD
A stranger youth to the slip rails rode and fastened his horse and spokeD
Softly and low yet none so low but that every man there heardV
'I've come to tackle your outlaw colt ' and he looked as good as his wordV
-
He bridled The Rebel in failing light and saddled the colt and drewA
The straps of his gearing doubly tight and looked that his 'length' was trueA
He mounted The Rebel and gave the word and the clattering rails went downG
And the outlaw leapt at the open gate and into the shadows brownG
But he settled himself to the soothing voice and the touch of the fondling handW
As it followed the curve of his arching neck from wither to forehead bandW
His flanks were wet with the fresh sprung sweat his shoulders lathered with foamO
And he bent to the bridle and played with the bit as he came at a canter homeO
-
And the boys were dumb with wonder and sat and the Red Creek overseerM
Was first to drop from the stockyard fence and give him a hearty cheerX
He raised his hat in answer and the golden hair floated freeP
And the blue eyes lit with laughter as she shouted merrilyP
'You can reach me down my bridle give my girths and saddle backJ
For the outlaw of Glenidol is a broken lady's hack '-

William Henry Ogilvie



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