Snowy Mountain Blood by David J Delaney is a short but powerful bush poem celebrating the skill, courage and heritage of Australia’s stockmen.
Through the image of a rider working brumbies in the high country, David captures the pride of generations who learned their craft in the mountains. It is a tribute to tradition, family and the enduring spirit of the Snowy Mountains.
Snowy Mountain Blood
By David J Delaney
Sonnet No. 3
He views the brumbies fleeing down the hill
while now he’s chasing, closing at great pace.
And knowing that one slip out here could kill,
he can’t afford a tumble or lose face.
The cracking stockwhip sounded as he cheered
it echoed through the valley far below.
These Queensland mountains many have revered,
though riders did when footings lost would throw.
remembers how the man rode snowy’s side,
his father told the story long ago.
And how his heart beat hard with so much pride,
it was his Grandad dealt the best a blow.
He fronts the mob and halts them with one crack!
now with them all defeated, drives them back.
Keeping The Verse Alive
Snowy Mountain Blood is shared with permission from David J Delaney through Keeping The Verse Alive, Country Campfire’s bush poetry preservation project.
Poems like this help preserve the traditions, landscapes and stories of Australia’s mountain stockmen for future generations.
David J Delaney
Bush Poet • Writer • Storyteller
David J Delaney is an Australian bush poet and writer whose poems draw on a lifetime of work, travel, family, road memories, outback places and the people he has known along the way. His poems are preserved through Country Campfire as part of the Keeping The Verse Alive project.
Poems, recitals, photographs, stories and original works remain the property of their original creator and are shared by Country Campfire with permission.
