It's a complicated question Marty. It's true that, as you alluded to , most Australians live in cities, but at the same time there is many who enjoy bush poetry as a sort of nostalgia for what they perceive as the romance of the other times and places.
And again there is the problem of a growing number of Australians who have no cultural connection to our heritage. I once had the misfortune to be part of a presentation of bush poetry to a group of middle eastern newcomers, it was a disaster, they were totally uninterested.
But then again Arabs, Jews and Persians have a very strong cultural affinity with the art of poetry, as do the Chinese. When I visited Zondrae's Illawarra bush poets they a young Asian lady who very keenly recited bush poetry by Henry Lawson.
As far as poems of vintage. I think mixing things up works OK. Contemporary with vintage, I think works. In the music concert world people still listen with enthusiasm to Beethoven, Purcell and Handel and they are antiques, the music that is ,
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) Even in the pop world, don't people still like a bit of Beatles and Buddy Holly, that stuff, which like us baby boomers is becoming vintage.
Maybe the themes are getting a bit tired. Maybe. If you care to have a look at some of the good contemporary poets they still do "bush" themes from time to time. I am inclined to think that it's the form that is getting tired. I know I get weary of sitting through bush poetry presentations where every poem is sung to the same tune, as Manfred calls it, iambic sevens.
I am not saying you are wrong, I think there is more to it than that. You mention how the people at the Laggan pub thought bush poetry was only for old people. And it seems to be rural workers not city folk who call the poetry room the departure lounge. Maybe it's the modern mind wherever it is found that does not resonate with our heritage of folk verse.
What's the answer. One of my colleagues used to come into the office most days and loudly proclaim " the answer is, there's no answer"
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