Comment from Debbie Pope

Excellent

I'm ashamed to say that I have never heard of a brumby, but your poem is self explanatory. I gathered that a brumby is a wild horse. I looked it up anyway because I was curious. Apparently, they are native to Australia and bigger than our mustangs.
Your poem portrays the essence of freedom and self reliance. My favorite description is that he drinks from a lake, not from a trough and his hoofbeats make the bellbirds sing. That is simply beautiful.
Have you been lucky enough to see a brumby? I hope so.
I'm glad that you are having time to write lately. I'm enjoying it.

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 Comment Written 19-Nov-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2019

Hi Debbie,

Horses aren't actually native to Australia, in the true sense. The first ones arrived in 1788, with the first European settlers. What we call our "brumbies" are horses that long ago escaped or were let loose and have since multiplied in the wild. They came from all over the place; initially Britain, but also Indonesia, south Africa and other places. A lot of the early stock would have been English draught (draft) horses and thoroughbreds, which I guess explains why, on average they might be bigger than mustangs. Anyway, we claim them as native now :)

I don't recall ever setting eyes on one. They tend to be restricted to the "true outback", and the very high mountain regions in the south of our state. Where I live is what people would call "country", but it's mostly improved grazing land, not true outback, even if the city folk regard it that way.

Thanks for reviewing, and thanks for taking an interest :)

reply by the author on 19-Nov-2019

Oh, and I forgot to mention... our own latest little brumby (actually a Shetland pony, but in our eyes, he's every bit as wonderful), was born yesterday. His name is Leroy.

reply by Debbie Pope on 20-Nov-2019

What a great name! Did you pick it?

reply by Debbie Pope on 20-Nov-2019

That all sounds so fascinating. You have such a rich life, Lee. Sort of like your brumbies.
By the way, does anyone travel to the true outback? Have you? There are a few parts of the US where people don't really go, but not many.

reply by Debbie Pope on 20-Nov-2019

I name all my feral cats. I've had them all spayed and neutered, but if another one wanders up, he's gonna be Leroy for sure. I can't get close enough to tell the sex of the cats, so Leroy fits.