ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said, "Poets write for ego or money and sometimes both."
However my friend John Dengate countered this by saying, "True poets write because they have to."
I think both statements are correct.

Vic Jefferies

There's some fantastic replies here. I'll have to read them a few times to get the idea.

I had this idea come to me in the bath, ( I get good ideas in the bath ) to my chagrin I realised that my list of poetic impetus was mostly self centred.
Irene and Neil and Heather have set me straight.

Important reason to do poetry ..because people out there want to hear and read poetry, it does something for them, hopefully it makes them think and these thoughts will make a difference to the way they see things and maybe even the way they do things. That sounds a bit deeep, but you know what I mean..don't you ?

I agree Glenny..a good balance.

There's a poem in that, Nev . . Deeep thoughts in the bath tub; can just picture it - yellow rubber ducky floating about whilst you sit there, half lathered scribbling away your inspiration trying not to get bubblebath on your nib

I think it was Wilde who also said "I don't make plans, I go whither my feelings prompt".
I bet he had inspiration in the bath too


Cheers, Marty

Bugger the bath. I'm going to bed!! Project finished....y a a w n.

Marty. Archimedes had great thoughts in the bath. Unlike Archimedes I don't leap out and run down the street, naked, shouting " EUREKA " .

You're right Marty, there is a poem in that.

Glenny, I hope you do well in the...???.....competition. I won't I didn't enter.

Marty, I reckon all bush poets should read Oscar Wilde's poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
It's a masterpiece.

Do people still have baths ???


Bob

...not since La Nina popped in....

Not since LA NINA dropped in some get all the luck

Didn't actually know that Wilde was Australian but if he ran down the street yelling Eureka guess he must have been. Who ever would have thought?

Hey what's going on here ???? Are Glenny and Bill doing some kind of double act?????

Glenny said

...not since La Nina popped in....

Bill said

Not since LA NINA dropped in some get all the luck

Very strange - don't ya reckon Mates??? Start to sound like a ventriloquist and the doll (sorry Bill that would have be be Glenny - you aren't pretty enough)

Cheers

Maureen