ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I had the understanding that members who posted on the forum had made an agreement not to post, among other things, material that was vulgar , sexually-oriented. Its appears that this agreement no longer applies, perhaps the webmaster might confirm that to clear up my misunderstanding.

Silence came the stern reply.

It was also meant to be strictly a Bush Verse site as well (once)
You'd never know now though would you - not that I really care?

I must admit I only read the odd thing that takes my fancy, so probably miss most of what's said.

Terry

Like yourself Neville, I personally have no tolerance for vulgarity, crudity, sexual innuendo, bad language, or offensive (or potentially offensive to some people) material in Bush Poetry.
I would also strongly object if it crept onto this site. That is why you have Moderators I think??

If a poem has any of those things and attempts to pass itself off as Bush or Traditional Poetry then it gets a one-way trip to the bin. Standards. We do have them, I think? Decorum is the word. There are no written rules... but most people have a fair idea of decorum.

"Bush" surely does not mean rough and rude.. or crude. Embarrassing stuff. It means skill with the use of English ... a noble and higher form of expression... and swearing in particular I believe shows a plain lack of ability to find an adjective.

Like a little child trying to draw attention to himself by being naughty, being vulgar is an attention getter and not a demonstrator of poetic ability.

It should never get its nose onto this (incredibly prestigious?) site. If vulgarity and crudity is someone's thing, then there are public-toilet doors for that.

Bush Poetry or Traditional Writing (unlike Contemporary Poetry) does not need shock value or controversy to give it merit. It has standards that need to be defended rigorously.

That is quite different to all the other branches of the Arts. Painting/art... there is a video on the net with Geoge Brandis where an Art Museum Curator espouses the virtues of a painting that has elephant dung for a woman's breasts. True. "oh it is all in the eye of the beholder, of course. You simply MUST agree with that!" says the learned curator. yeah right.

Controversy/crudity is a great money-spinner in art. Everyone wins. The artist gets notoriety and fame, the painting is "famous" and worth a lot more, the media gets something to write about in the Arts area, exhibition managers get more curious heads through the door and more money. Arties can say "Oh, I saw that controversial painting and I think....." snob value. They tried to get a toe in to the no-go area of naked kids recently in photography, great controversy and cash in shock value, passing it off as "art" as usual but the public said... NOT NAKED CHILDREN.. elephant dung is fine if it does it for you, but stay away from child pornography. Standards. You can get close to the gutter apparently, push boundaries of public decency, but to land in the gutter actually does your art form a big disservice.

Contemporary Poetry is another matter. That is an area where anything goes. Shock value is encouraged. No standards at all. No decorum. No decency. Nothing. Vulgarity is the go and is applauded. The only rule is "there are no rules".

Look at the PM's Award for "Poetry". $80,000 for "A woman at 40 weeks gestation contemplates her undergarments" plus another poem entitled Divorce which is a dirty joke about the size of the male sexual appendage. Great "Poetry"... or cheap shock value. You decide.

Vulgarity. Contemporary Poetry it may be... but Bush Poetry!? Never! We rely on skill for merit, not shock value!! don't we???

Keep it completely OUT of bush poetry. Let's fight against Bush Poetry going down the same gutter as Contemporary Poetry. That means on this site.

Keep it clean, and skillful. There is a certain innocence and purity about Bush Poetry that I personally find attractive and admirable. Worth preserving. The Man from Snowy River, Clancy.... The Man From Ironbark... fun. Excellent writing. Gather round children and hear real Australian Poetry.

Good for you Neville!!!!!! I owe you a few beers. A. B. Paterson would applaud you. I agree with what I believe you are saying. Taking a courageous stand. Great stuff.

Was someone naughty Neville? Let me at 'em!

G/day Gary,
I'm a bit like you, in as much as I love the old style that has stood the test of time and try to follow with my own puny efforts, that way of writing myself.
But there is no denying that changes have crept in, just go to anywhere Bush poetry is being recited and there's usually at least the odd poem that's a bit iffy to say the least, and in many cases the audience seem to love it.
But compared to some Free Verse poetry it's pretty harmless as most of the time.

The other thing worth noting is that Bush Poetry Competitions are run on strict lines which I think is a great way of preserving the old values of Bush poetry and I hope this never changes.

Cheers Terry

Heather You just beat me to the punch - I never noticed anything either but as I said before I only read the odd post.

I think Neville is referring to the joke Wazza posted. Personally I don't believe there is too much wrong with suggestive jokes, as long as it is left up to the mind of the reader. If someone who is totally innocent (who I doubt would be reading this section anyway) doesn't understand the joke then there is no harm done. What I am saying is that anyone who 'gets' the joke shouldn't be offended. This of course excludes the use of vulgarities or over explicit language.
A joke that I heard well over twenty years ago is a perfect example of what I am trying to say here:

'Two shrinks are talking and one offers to check the other out as a favour,

'I'll ask the questions and you answer the first thing that comes into your head...you know the drill.'

'OK, what does a man do standing up, a woman do sitting down and a dog do on three legs?

'Shake hands!'

'Ok, what does your dog do in your back yard and when you walk outside and step in it you want to kill him?'

'Digs holes!'

'Very good... now where do women have the curliest hair?'

'Fiji!'

"Excellent! there doesn't seem to be too much wrong with you...you should hear some of the answers I get to those questions.'

See what I mean...no charge for the psychiatric appointment by the way...

It's all fair comment, But you will find the word rooster works just as well without offence.

In our place we have shed rules and house rules having two girls and three boys it seems to work.

TTFN

Here's me thinking we were talking about poetry.

Nup Terry


General Chit-Chat and Off Topic


That's where it was posted.


Bob

...yeah Dave, somehow a weather rooster doesn't have the same ring to it as a weathercock...which is what I always knew it as; as a kid!
and I have never heard of a rooster fight but I have heard of a cockfight, sometimes I think we get a bit too precious about some things.