WHO'S RIDING OLD HARLEQUIN NOW? by Harry ("Breaker") Morant

They are mustering cattle on Brigalow Vale
   Where the stock-horses whinny and stamp,
And where long Andy Ferguson, you may go bail,
   Is yet boss on a cutting-out camp.
Half the duffers I met would not know a fat steer
   From a blessed old Alderney cow.
Whilst they're mustering there I am wondering here -
   Who is riding brown Harlequin now?


Are the pikers as wild and the scrubs just as dense
   In the brigalow country as when
There was never a homestead and never a fence
   Between Brigalow Vale and The Glen?
Do they yard the big micks 'neath the light of the moon?
   Do the yard-wings re-echo the row
Of stockwhips and hoof-beats?  And what sort of coon
   Is there riding old Harlequin now?


There was buckjumping blood in the brown gelding's veins,
   But, lean-headed, with iron-like pins,
Of Pyrrhus and Panic he'd plentiful strains,
   All their virtues, and some of their sins.
'Twas the pity, some said, that so shapely a colt
   Fate should with such temper endow;
He would kick and would strike, he would buck and would bolt -
   Ah! who's riding brown Harlequin now?


A demon to handle! a devil to ride!
   Small wonder the surcingle burst;
You'd have thought that he'd buck himself out of his hide
   On the morning we saddled him first.
I can mind how he cow-kicked the spur on my boot,
   And though that's long ago, still I vow
If they're wheeling a piker no new-chum galoot
   Is a-riding old Harlequin now!


I remember the boss - how he chuckled and laughed
   When they yarded the brown colt for me:
"He'll be steady enough when we finish the graft
   And have cleaned up the scrubs of Glen Leigh!'
I am wondering today if the brown horse yet live,
   For the fellow who broke him, I trow,
A long lease of soul-ease would willingly give
   To be riding brown Harlequin now!


'Do you think you can hold him?' old Ferguson said -
   He was mounted on Homet, the grey;
I think Harlequin heard him - he shook his lean head,
   And he needed no holding that day.
Not a prick from a spur, nor a sting from a whip
   As he raced among deadwood and bough
While I sat fairly quiet and just let him rip -
   But who's riding old Harlequin now?


I could hear 'em a-crashing the gidgee in front
   As the Bryan colt streaked to the lead
Whilst the boss and the niggers were out of the hunt.
   For their horses lacked Harlequin's speed;
The pikers were yarded and skies growing dim
   When old Fergie was fain to allow:
'The colt's track through the scrub was a knocker' to him -
   But who's riding brown Harlequin now?


From starlight to starlight - all day in between
   The foam-flakes might fly from his bit,
But whatever the pace of the day's work had been,
   The brown gelding was eager and fit.
On the packhorse's back they are fixing a load
   Where the path climbs the hill's gloomy brow;
They are mustering bullocks to send on the road,
   But - who's riding old Harlequin now?

First published in The Bulletin, 11 December 1897.