BLACK MAJESTY

 

The Brumbies in the high country of Victoria/New South Wales paid a terrible price in the December 2019 bush fires.  Bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales (starting in December 2025 and accelerating in January 2026) have again  had significant, but not fully quantified, impacts on local brumby herds in the Alpine regions and yet still our Government continues to mercilessly cull them.

Koalas, wallabies, Kangaroos, Dingoes and all other species of wildlife have also been heavily impacted.

 

BLACK  MAJESTY ... Maureen Clifford ©  The #ScribblyBarkPoet  

 

They stood like stark black silhouettes upon a distant hill,

the bush behind them blackened and of birdsong not a trill

and their coats as black as midnight were a perfect camouflage

against the fire scarred timber, bush fires flames had badly charred.

 

These are tough resilient horses of the Aussie brumby breed

who have been feted in history as loyal and hardy steeds.

God alone knows what they've suffered, and God knows how they survived,

but they have.  We feared they wouldn't - but most have come through the fires.

 

Some were injured, now are healing - some alas stumbled and fell,

and doubtless more were sadly lost, how many we can't tell,

but these here are survivors - they deserve to live in peace

for they've faced the fires of hell and battled hard for their release.

 

These are Kosciusko brumbies, and the mountains are their home,

they are few enough in numbers, with three thousand miles to roam.

Why should man begrudge their freedom?  Why should man seek to destroy

such spirit, strength and beauty – our living Heritage to enjoy.

 

Let these brumbies stand as a reminder of our pioneer times,

of their forefathers who fought in wars, in different lands and clime,

for the genes of those horses long gone run strongly through their blood

though old carcasses in Flanders Field are deep held in French mud.

 

I for one would like to think that fifty years from now at least

another little child will gaze upon this wondrous beast

and with love and pride be captured by their beauty and their grace.

Then a smile of innocence and love will cross that small child’s face.

 

Far better that, than pointing out a picture in a book

Showing brumbies running wild, leaping snowy gums and brook;

explaining that we let them go - and didn't fight to save them.

How will we justify such loss when there are none remaining?

 

15.3.2020