An Old Man's Vows

For those not familiar with Banjo Paterson's poem LOST you may like to read it first to understand the sequel below. You can find it at http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/lost.html He stood by the pepper tree down by the stream and his eyes were cast down at the mound, the hurt in his heart, which he’d carried for years, now displaced by the peace he had found. The promise he'd made to himself years ago he'd fulfilled as he'd promised he would and the daughter and grandson he'd lost years ago lay together as he'd deemed they should. He’d known that the filly was vicious, strong willed, but the lad was so wilful and game. He’d only gone down to the two mile that day, still he failed to return all the same. His mother searched tirelessly all through the night and for days rode the ranges in hope. But sadly she pined and she faded and cried, till her small frame could no longer cope. He lay her to rest ‘neath the pepper trees’ shade and he vowed to his God and to her, he’d search for the bonnie, young, winsome lad’s bones till the ranges declared where they were. He too was determined to track down the mare, that now ran with the ranks of the free, but pledged in his heart he would have recompense for the bones ‘neath the ironbark tree. Year in and year out the old man rode the range and he searched every gully and ridge. Astride his old grey with his packhorse in tow, he forged on with his bold pilgrimage. At times he would sight the wild mob and the mare, but they sensed the man’s presence and fled. Though filled with a will to win out in his quest, the old man set his course straight ahead. CONTINUED