ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I read through the entries on the homwork topic, and I don't get it !

We are supposed to be a poetry group and what I see is all this negativity about having a go at an exercise to practise writing poetic form.

Not only that, after all the griping and put-down, the entries this week have been the best response that Maureen has got for a long time.

Isn't it a matter of pride that the Aussie spirit is open minded and willing to ' 'ave a go '

'Ave a go ya mugs, stop your whinging.

Bit lost there Nev on one hand you chastise us for having a gripe, then tell us to have a go after we all have ?????

"the entries this week have been the best response that Maureen has got for a long time".


I reserve my right to grumble.


Bob

Corners boys I appreciate the efforts everyone puts in and even if only one person responds to a homework prompt I guess that is one person who has had to have a think that they maybe mightn't have done otherwise.

Agree that IMO also nothing of any great worth will probably eventuate from OUR acrostics and it is supposed to be a bit of fun not a method of torture, but having said that there have been what I consider to be rather clever writes come from it. So that is good isn't it? And it has been a good response this time around. Thanks to everyone who has had a go

Promise I will pick something easier for the next weeks prompts. If anyone has any ideas they would like to see expanded on (not risqué or anatomically impossible) please put them forward for consideration. Like a canine - I try to please

NB Didn't want to be considered sexist and use dog or bitch so went for the generic term

Cheers

Maureen

Marty, Bob, I just thought we should give Maureen a go. I thought negative comments diminish her efforts and I fumed a bit.

Oh Neville,

If you want my opinion - I think (possibly too much) before I speak, so to write what I really think is just too hard for me. If we had a way that we could offer critique without being identified I would comment more often. My trouble is that I still consider myself a learner and maybe what I think is an error could well be a legitimate literary tool of which I am yet to learn. I have, in the past, spent many hours on 'looking at' newcomers poems and offering what I can in the way of sharing knowledge. In at least two of these cases my advice has been totally ignored and in another case I discovered the person had taken the same poems and had them looked at by several other ABPA members. Therefore in these three cases I have waisted my time. I am now less inclined to bother trying to be of assistance to someone who would ask.

As for contributing to Maureens homework poems, I already do plenty of this with my own group. At the moment I have, by default, been given the task of chairperson. There are many duties to tie me up - and I like to get it right. I like to think ahead and stretch all IBP members as well as encourage them on to bigger and better things. I have a couple of festivals coming up and a weekly poem, and newsletter to write and also a monthly poem. I am so busy writing that I don't have any time for writing. I used to offer topics and feedback on Ric Raftis site but have abandoned this due to lack of interest. Maureen herself used to contribute to my homework topics before she began to offer topics here. I congratulate her for her efforts and I have honestly thought to 'have a go' but have more pressing demands on my time.
Anything that encourages writing is a good thing.

Thanks Zondrae. I hope things go well with your festivals.

I am not in favour of anonymous critiques.

I wasn't trying to suggest that anyone was slack in not doing homework topics, I was trying to rev up those miscreants to have a go without grizzling about the topic.

don't lets degenerate into a catfight All valid points and I know where you are all coming from. I appreciate Neville's chivalry just as much as I appreciate Marty and Bobs stirring and Zondrae has been very busy and sent me a cracker of a poem today with a really funny ending that had me ROTFL it was so left field.

I think we all do our bit on this site which is why I like it so much. We are all so different and see things through different eyes and that is where the variety and spice comes from - I have had help from many people as I am sure most of us have and have taken on board and appreciated every gift of knowledge shared with great appreciation for the givers time and consideration.

Those who have the time and the inclination will participate those who don't will hopefully at least view the efforts put out there for there entertainment - I think that covers everyone.

Now please get back to poetry as I am already adjudicating 2 fall outs at the present time and can't handle any more.

My family are feuding - parts of anyway - the same parts as last time ad infinitum Knocking their heads together didn't work

My two girls are having major hissy fits - 3 blues in 3 days and blood drawn. ???? is it the medication that Mahalia is on making her short tempered with her sister?? Is it Elly sensing her sister is sick and trying to take over as the dominant dog? Breaking up dog fights is not my favourite thing to do and then supervising them as they tippy toe around each other growling with hackles raised inside the house, my growls are getting louder, the naughty corner is already in play but suspect that a permanent separation is going to be the only solution here....as in individual yard time

Sadly Mahalia is probably in pain, that makes the poor old pooches snappy.

( people too )

Zondrae - you can by no means be considered a learner, though certainly we never stop learning!
People may well have taken your advice away to think about it, and made the changes to their original. HOwever, don't feel that you have wasted your time, as a different poet may well have read it also, and taken heed in their own writing!!

Just letting you know also, that Ric now has his site back up and running again properly - with the first new poet for a long time posting a poem this morning!!
Your efforts at posting your homework topics were very much appreciated, but, for myself, I was going through a prolonged 'dry' spell, and many poets could not get back on the site, as they had forgotten their passwords.
Pop over and check it out if you have time - Bernie has been making the effort also to post topics, so any new input would be welcomed by him.

Maureen, hope your dogs settle down soon - it is so difficult when fights start where they normally get on well. I'm sure illness makes them grumpy, as it does us!! Thinking of them.

Catchya
Irene

Hi Zondrae,
I agree with Irene, you have well truly put the runs on the board.
I also have fond memories of doing homework that you set, both here and on Ric's site.

I have always found homework was helpful for me, it tends to make me think outside the square so to speak and you might be surprised to learn how many good lines sometimes pop into your head that can be handy for later use. And every now and again a gem of an idea will be hatched or a memory of something you had forgotten may be recalled. And I can also recall several homework poems from various poets that have gone on to be very successful poems. I also find it a helpful distraction if I'm struggling with a poem to do a bit of homework, it seems to somehow free up my mind a bit

And finally let's not worry about our likes and dislikes, that's poetry folks and most of our grumbles are a bit tongue in cheek anyway. (well mine are anyhow)

Cheers all

Terry