Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A TELL-TALE TRYST, by WILLIAM HENRY OGILVIE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A TELL-TALE TRYST, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O who was it saddled white star last night
Last Line: Who rode to the moonlight tryst!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ogilvie, Will Henry
Subject(s): Animals; Horses; Love


O WHO was it saddled White Star last night,
And who was it saddled White Star?
You can read his track to the rails and back
And down the creek ever so far.
O, moonlight is lovers' light, Somebody knows,
And witch-time the season to woo,
And down in the bend where the kurrajong grows
The tracks have been trodden by two!

O, who was it galloped White Star last night,
When gold stars jewelled the sky?
You can see the brand of saddle and band
In sweat that is clotted and dry.
O, Somebody raced, with the world asleep,
To a tryst that Somebody knew,
And over the blue-grass fetlock-deep
The white hoofs scattered the dew!

O, who was it fastened White Star last night
To a bough of the kurrajong-tree?
The deep-set grooves of his restless hooves
Are there for the world to see.
O, Somebody left him for true love's sake,
And Somebody left him long,
For horses may hunger and bridles break
When true love fashions her song!

O, who was it fondled White Star last night
When Somebody whispered adieu,
And plaited the grey of his mane in a way
That never those grey locks grew?
And who was it bent from his saddle-bow
To the plea of an upturned face,
While down in the bend where the kurrajongs grow
The world stood still for a space?

O, the lover who saddled White Star last night
It is very easy to guess,
For his face is bright with a new-found light
And a joy that his eyes confess.
O, Somebody met in the moonlight snow
Someone that cared to be kissed,
And the veriest dolt in the world may know
Who rode to the moonlight tryst!





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