Old Billy The Shearer Poem by Francis Duggan

In the late nineteen sixties to the eighties a man among men
But many changes and a lot has happened since then
And many things Have happened in the World since he was in his prime
The ex champion shearer is showing the wear of time

The hair on his balding head is silver grey
Old Billy the shearer has known of a far better day
In his prime the best shearer in the big country north, east, west and south
In every shearing shed he shore in of this he left none in doubt

Back in the days when his hair was dark brown
He drunk and made merry in many a pub in many an outback town
Back when he had many a lover in his life
But he grows old on his own he never had a wife

His better years are in the forever gone
But his great love of life in him is living on
Time does not wait it keep on ticking fast
Growing old with his memories of Seasons long past

When he was never found to be wanting when put to the test
In every shed he shore in he was the best
Many of the shearers he shore with in their eternal rest lay
That time takes care of the best of them only true to say

Wrinkled and frail looking in his early eighties for the hard life some price to pay
In the retirement home he will live his last day
On his better years a man among men
But a lot in the World has happened since then