Why Do I Rhyme?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:12 pm
I rhyme for love, I rhyme for art, I rhyme for sake of fun
I rhyme to make a statement, and for fears to overcome
I rhyme to tell a tale or portray a certain scene
I rhyme to tell of history, or just what may have been
I tell stories for to entertain and bring about a smile
To the sad, and disillusioned who have placed their life on trial
I tell stories for to bring a laugh, and raise a hearty grin
At the way our country used to be, before some threw it in
I don't rhyme for any cynics, I don't rhyme to upset folk
I don't rhyme to shock the people or to make 'real' poets choke
I don't rhyme for sake of anger, I don't rhyme to try and damn
I don't rhyme for intellectuals, for that's not who I am.
I don't recite to fit your guidelines, as I want no accolade
I don't recite to claim some trophies, those I've won I've long mislaid
Yet I pride myself in one thing, that's the reason why I live
To bring a smile to people, it's the gift I have to give
Thus if I'm not your cup of tea, that's fine, I understand
But don't you try to smear my name, or works plied by my hand
I was bought up in the heyday of 'Bush Poet's family'
But now it seems dysfunctional and such for all to see
The snide remarks, the undertones, it really breaks my heart
That the toil of modern poets gave the genre a new start
Only to be undermined by jealousy or spite?
My pencil cries, my paper bleeds, as I sit here tonight
Knowing that I feel, again, alone within my quest
To build a form of rhyming that I hope will stand the test
And renew the Aussie values, and perhaps knock down a wall
Between the stubborn adults and the young folk that we call...
Irresponsible, delinquent, slaves to new technology
For we all know much better, so it's our side they should see.
Well sorry but I must move on, the world is changing fast
So condemn my rhyming if you must, as I farewell the past.
keats
©Neil McArthur 2011
I rhyme to make a statement, and for fears to overcome
I rhyme to tell a tale or portray a certain scene
I rhyme to tell of history, or just what may have been
I tell stories for to entertain and bring about a smile
To the sad, and disillusioned who have placed their life on trial
I tell stories for to bring a laugh, and raise a hearty grin
At the way our country used to be, before some threw it in
I don't rhyme for any cynics, I don't rhyme to upset folk
I don't rhyme to shock the people or to make 'real' poets choke
I don't rhyme for sake of anger, I don't rhyme to try and damn
I don't rhyme for intellectuals, for that's not who I am.
I don't recite to fit your guidelines, as I want no accolade
I don't recite to claim some trophies, those I've won I've long mislaid
Yet I pride myself in one thing, that's the reason why I live
To bring a smile to people, it's the gift I have to give
Thus if I'm not your cup of tea, that's fine, I understand
But don't you try to smear my name, or works plied by my hand
I was bought up in the heyday of 'Bush Poet's family'
But now it seems dysfunctional and such for all to see
The snide remarks, the undertones, it really breaks my heart
That the toil of modern poets gave the genre a new start
Only to be undermined by jealousy or spite?
My pencil cries, my paper bleeds, as I sit here tonight
Knowing that I feel, again, alone within my quest
To build a form of rhyming that I hope will stand the test
And renew the Aussie values, and perhaps knock down a wall
Between the stubborn adults and the young folk that we call...
Irresponsible, delinquent, slaves to new technology
For we all know much better, so it's our side they should see.
Well sorry but I must move on, the world is changing fast
So condemn my rhyming if you must, as I farewell the past.
keats
©Neil McArthur 2011