ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I didn't quite know where to put this one so I hope this is OK.

A member of Illawarra Breakfast Poets, at the gathering this morning, introduced this by saying - He found a book of Henry Lawson's work at the recent Life Line Book Sale. When he read this poem he immediately thought of me. I'm not sure if I am flattered or insulted but in case anyone else hasn't read this before I thought you may get a chuckle...


My Literary Friend
© Henry Lawson

Once I wrote a little poem that I thought was very fine
And I showed the printer’s copy to a critic friend of mine,
First he praised the thing a little, then he found a little fault;
“The ideas are good,” he muttered, “but the rhythm seems to halt.”

So I straightened up the rhythm where he marked it with his pen.
And I copied it and showed it to my clever friend again.
“You’ve improved the metre greatly, but the rhymes are bad,” he said
As he read it slowly, scratching surplus wisdom from his head.

So I worked as he suggested (I believe in taking time),
And I burnt the midnight taper while I straightened up the rhyme.
“It is better now,” he muttered “you go on and you’ll succeed,
It has got a ring about it – the ideas are what you need.”

So I worked for hours upon it (I go on when I commence)
And I kept in view the rhythm and the jingle and the sense,
And I copied it and took it to my solemn friend once more –
It reminded him of something he had somewhere read before!

. . . . . .

Now the people say I’d never put such horrors into print
If I wasn’t too conceited to accept a friendly hint,
And my dearest friends are certain that I’d profit in the end
If I’d always show my copy to a literary friend.


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Posted by - but not written by

It's obvious the problems persisted long before they came to us, Zondrae.

Joe.

'Only half the lies I tell are the truth. . . '

I attended a writing workshop at Singleton run by a lady who was an editor for a big publishing company. She really got stuck into us with her editing razor. It was a very helpful workshop, but I gave her a copy of that poem by Henry lawson. She was greatly amused.

Neville

G'day all,

I too was most amused when I read it. That is why I posted it.

I remember reading Henry's poem some years back and was inspired to write the following.

JUDGE'S COMMENTS

There’s a sense of satisfaction
when your thoughts down deep within
reach fruition and you know it
'cause you sit there with a grin;
and you wonder if your peers,
for you welcome their critiques,
would they praise the rhyme and rhythm,
but suggest the verse is weak.
There's a competition running
so you send your masterpiece
with the hope they'll treat you kindly,
but the butterflies increase.
For you've heard they can be brutal
or just honest, should I say
and your nerves are shot to pieces
when the postie comes each day.
Then among the mail one morning
is the letter you await;
How you seem to be all fingers,
'cause you’re in an anxious state.
Still you've torn the env'lope open
and you scan down through the text
not quite knowing how to take aboard
the comments that come next.
"I have read your little poem
and this comment bears no grudge.
Put more fire into your poems
or vice versa." Yours - the Judge.

©Bush Poet and Balladeer
Merv Webster

A literary friend is a great asset and over the years poets such as Ellis Campbell and Carmel Randle were kind enough to share their skills with me.

Very clever - Makes you think though doesn't it - even great masterpieces are flawed. Just that most people don't notice. Beauty as they say is in the eye of the beholder.

Loved these lines of yours Merv

Put more fire into your poems
or vice versa." .

I must share them with my son to set his mind at rest when I am gone he will have a great source of kindling for his Bar BQ

Cheers

Maureen