ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Morning everyone,

I'm in the middle of a conundrum. I'm getting ready to print my fourth book of bush poetry, and I don't know which way to go. Should I put only the "proper" poems that conform to all the rules etc, or should I include some of the "less accurate" (but probably more entertaining, maybe even cheeky) poems? But then, I get some people ask for a book of just horse poems (I know some of you will have trouble believing that!!!)

OK, I need votes/opinions.

Should I (A) - only include "prize winning" poems?
or (B) - include half "silly" poems?

I figure that either way I'm going to unimpress someone. The ordinary guy off the street would probably enjoy the silly poems better, but poets are going to pick holes in them.

Help!!!!

Kym.

Do both Kym. Maybe you could split the book and put the award winning ones in one section and explain what you have done. The world should not be deprived of your silly poems! The silly poems might not win comps but that is not all that bush poetry is about. It should be fun too.

How are the donkeys?

Heather

Agreed Heather, some poets publish their books to include sections for the different styles of poem. You, for example Kymbo, could have Awards Winning poems, A horse section, a cheeky section and a silly section, as an example. I don't see anything wrong with that, except take into account the size of the book (ie. page numbers) that you wish to publish.

Cheers

Neil

Another vote for both from me. If you didn't want to separate them into sections you could perhaps put a foreword in stating the prize winning ones have an asterisk or star or something somewhere on the page. An afterword (is there such a word?) might be better instead, that way readers won't be distracted until they have finished the book then they could go back to study what a prize winning poem is all about.

Hi Kym
If you are producing a book for the average person to buy, read and enjoy - not to win competitions on technicalities - then put in the poems that you feel your audience will enjoy.
You can always put in your foreword that 'though some of these poems would not be placed in a written competition, they are written for enjoyment, and you hope those reading them will enjoy them also'. And if anyone then wants to pick holes in the technicalities - that is their problem, not yours!!!

You can look through the work of our traditional poets, and you will find faults in some of their metre and rhyme, but that doesn't stop any of us from enjoying their poems.

I'm a believer that you go with your gut feelings and do what feels right for yourself - not everyone else.
Your poems/books will sell anywhere Kym - you don't need to be worried about criticism from anyone who would be small minded enough to pick holes in it. (Mind you, I don't think too many poets would do that, as we all know that a good poem is about more than just being perfect!!)

Look forward to buying it when you get it out.

Catchya
IRene

G'day Kym,

With my little books, I found people wanted the poems they heard me perform at that festival. Like many of us, I perform poems that are less then perfect. As you suspect the funny, perhaps less than first place getters, may appeal to a greater audience than 'proper' ones.

IMHO you should go with your heart. Publish a book that you will be proud to have your name emblazoned on the front cover of. What you are offering the public is not a text book to teach English or even the rules of rhyming verse. You are offering The Poetry (or works) of Kym Eitel. It is unique, and as long as you are pleased to have it 'out there', then it is right for you.

What they said 100% Given a choice between reading a perfectly correct text book and something that gives you a good giggle or that your can relate to - what would you choose? There's you answer.

Go for it and good on you Kym..

Cheers

Maureen

Hmmmm, all very interesting comments and some great suggestions. Thank you everyone for taking the time. I think my problem stems from me not knowing who I am exactly. That sounds stupid, doesn't it, but I mean, part of me wants to be loud and "out there" and silly and funny like Glenny (and don't give me that wide-eyed-who-me look Miss Glenny, you know that's how you are), then part of me wants to be proper and respectable, like Zondrae, IRene and David Campbell, who would never print silly streaker poems. I have to decide what image I want to maintain. Perhaps it's too late to lift my act - after the last forum closed down, I was quite happy to leave the silly poems behind, but in reality, they could be the more popular ones for reading.

Perhaps more to the point, would be - what would my mother think? Would she cringe in shame to read the rubbish her daughter writes? Hmmm, perhaps that's the issue.

Heather - the donkeys are doing great. I've sent it to a comp - let's see how it goes?

Keats - I usually mix the poems up in the book, but separate them into different sections in the contents, so if someone is after just horse poems, they can look them up. Perhaps I should put them in sections or chapters in the book too? Hmmm...

Leonie - in my previous books, I used to list the prizes each poem had won, but then I felt that was being bit of a show-off, but perhaps it serves a purpose after all. At least then readers can tell if that was a "proper" poem or a just-for-fun one.

Martyboy - I don't cope well with that "to hell with 'em" attitude. I was brought up to worry about what the neighbours would think about ever move I made. Perhaps that's why I enjoy poetry comps - it's anonymous so I can write whatever I want without the judges knowing.

IRene - perhaps a foreword or Dear Reader page would be a good place to explain that there's a bit of both. Good idea.

Zondrae - I think that performance poems are generally more entertaining than written comp poems (some are technically perfect, but dreadfully boring). Am I pleased to have my streaker poems 'out there'? Hmmm, that's the problem. Do I want to be a fun person or would my mum and kids be too ashamed?

Maureen - yup, I agree. The poems that leave me with a 'wow, that was great' feeling are usually not the proper ones.

OK, I reckon I'll leave my silly Grandpa ones in, but I'm still undecided about the streaker ones. In my first book, I left the rude ones mixed in with the rest, but in the second book, I made a "zip-out" section so people could cut out the cheeky poems and give the book to kids or school libraries. Perhaps I'll just do that again.

Decisions, decisions ...

Thanks so much everyone for your opinions and suggestions.

Kym.

Kym your streaker poem is so, so funny. (Is there more than one?) I laugh my head off at your funny poems and hope one day that I can write like you. I'd kill to be able to write such funny poems. You have a wonderful sense of the ridiculous but you can also write some beautiful serious poetry and I love those too. Your streaker poem is not rude, it's just silly and funny; you take your readers for a ride. Why can't you write both? Who do you need to impress? You are grown up now and you can do as you please and write what makes you happy. I used to be meek and mild but I've gone through a life changing experience over the past 22mths and it makes you realise what and who is important in life. You've been there. Take life by the throat and go for it girl.

You're mum can't be that bad can she?

Hey Maureen and Leonie we gotta get this girl out more.

Heather

Sorry to tell you this Kym, but it's your book and your poems...and your decision.



Neville