jerry hughes - BULLOCKY

'win some lose some'

He was lean and mean,
like the rawhide whip he'd
crack above their heads.
'Pull you lazy bastards pull! '
he'd roar.
Crack - crack - crack!
went the whip.

The bullocks straining, slobbering
and grunting, moved the massive log
up a gradient on to even ground.
And when they cleared the rise
their bodies trembled in relief.

The bullocky won the bet
his team could move the log.
But in the effort his massive lead bull,
bellowing from exhaustion, died.

jerry hughes

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bullocky/