Rosewood

• Hayley Lye, Grade 9, Katherine High School
• Poetry
• 2013

Excellence Award in the 'Dream Big 2013' competition

In the Outback of the Territory, where the water supply is good
There's an old and rusty cattle station known to locals as Rosewood
From coast to coast and pole to pole, it's the toughest in the land
Surviving ferocious floods, deathly droughts and storms made of sand
Nothing sways the Rosewood folk as they keep their cattle healthy
While the prime beef, the perfect meat,keep the drovers wealthy
They work all day from dawn to dusk upon their noble steeds
Returning to the homestead each night for a cracker of a feed!
The station cooks at Rosewood are the finest in the game
They put the French and German tossers to complete and utter shame
Making the softest bread, the tastiest stew - from the best beast
With self saucing pudding, the drovers have a feast!
The Rosewood folk they are the land, feel it's breath with every pace
Hear its croaks in drought, its laugh in rain, its dirt upon their face
When the sun begins to fade away it's deep beneath their swags they lay
Watching the stars shine so bright to mark the end of day.