Childhood influence.

[Peely]

G'day All

A couple of links that might be of interest regarding Louisa Lawson (pdf files):

The Lonely Crossing and Other Poems by Louisa Lawson
Some Leading Articles from the Dawn by Louisa Lawson

There are plenty of other ebooks on the same site with the writings of other Australian poets and authors of the past. The link to the main page is:

University of Sydney Australian Literary and Historical Texts

These are not printable, unfortunately, but are not a bad reference to begin with. All authors works are out of copyright in Australia but may not be in other countries. Outside of Australia you might need to check this before downloading.

Regards


John Peel

[Heather]

Brilliant John. Thanks.

Heather

[keats]

Wow, strange mixture here. My childhood influences were Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Melanie Safka and Johnny Winter. Not an Australian amongst them, yet I hung on every word and note they said and played. Great writers and teachers. I don't think their influences were destructive to me being an Aussie boy from the bush and an Aussie poet in later years. Loved their word play. Never heard of Lawson or Patterson back then and I was at a Private Catholic College, but I still now draw from what I learnt as a kid from the others and also have the Aussie Poets of the past and present to read as well. Ah the memories! Going off now to play some Hendrix flat out in the Van Park!

[Bob Pacey]

What do you do all day when you are not performing Neil ?


Bob the sticky beak. ?

[Neville Briggs]

PATERSON...Neil ...one T.

[keats]

Sorry Nev, I meant Paterson and Lawwson.

What do I do all day???????? I write, I walk, I play guitar and look for new places in this great country to photograph and enjoy. When I can be bothered I will service Apple Computers for people or write software programs, but thats just a hobby that helps pay the bills.

Yeah, what do I do all the rest of the time? Good question. I will have a beer and look into it. Have a show on at 4.30 though, so have to be quick!!

keats

[Neville Briggs]

I've read all the replies. There are some really interesting experiences, and all unique.

Loved their word play.

I am so glad that you brought that up Neil, Poetry is about words and the music of language ( my teachers tell me ) . And those that know more than me, tell me that the stories and ideas emerge from the words and the way the words are put together. Not just in sentences and phrases but language as a type of magical song and dance.

And I think it was that strange attraction of word magic, that was the legacy that my mother and teachers gave to me by introducing me to poetry. One day I might be able to do it

Thanks for the information Peely, I'll have a look at those links that you posted.

[warooa]

I agree Nev, about the poetry of words and music . . . like Neil I was entranced at a younger age by the words of the music I loved, but a lot was Aussie - beyond the raucus rasp of Jim Barnes there was some magical poetic lyrics from Don Walkers pen, then Paul Kelly, Dave Steel and ironically it wasn't until Mick Thomas's (WPA) Roaring Days (in 87?) that the Lawson influence reached me.

Marty

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks Marty ( I hate to tell you this but those name are a mystery to me )
Anyway, you've got it in your blood. Sounds good to me