COLLABORATIVE POEM 2 - CYPRESS RIDGE

[Maureen K Clifford]

This one is designed to stretch you a little - just a little and like a crossword has more than one prompt that can be woven into it.

Lets set some rules - easy ones to start with

Each verse must have 4 lines and lets suggest the first line has 14 syllables--then mix it up a bit just to add a degree of difficulty so that we run with 14/12/14/12 - OK with that? Rhyming pattern to follow on from the first verse - so if whoever writes the first verse goes with Abab then the rest of us like well trained sheep follow nicely through the gate - no stragglers or we will have the send the dogs after you.

Now Heather will want to know the Dogs names - so we have Lucy, Sally, Jodie and Fly.

Set of prompts - Bush Poetry right? How's about?? Try to weave them in as we go along and I don't mean everyone use them - if one suits what you are writing then go for it - we don't want six verses all with a set of longyards beneath the cypress ridge out the back of beyond with Kangaroos grazing on Mother Earth.

Cypress Ridge
longyard
back of beyond
Native animals (free choice)
Mother Earth


It is 1pm Saturday - if there isn't anything up here by 6pm Saturday - (come on 5hours - that's plenty of time) I'll put the 1st verse up.

Whoever kicks it off can choose a title - Right oh folks - get po'in lets see who is first out of the gate..... now Lucy, Sally - come behind, come behind.


Cheers


Maureen

PS Zondrae - where is it written that Bush Poetry has to have 4 lines - have never seen that and we have plenty (had plenty) that had more than 4 lines per verse

[Zondrae]

G'day again Maureen,

I too, have written many poems with stanzas of more than four lines. However, if we wish to tempt some newer members into having a go, we could keep it a little simpler, don't you think? And even if we did decide on six, then a simpler rhyming pattern would make it easier. This suggested one should be fine with everyone. Then the next poe - maybe a bit more challenging. Ease us into it.

Hey, I don't mind the challenge but we would like everyone to feel free to get in there. I think the lack of rules was why the first one went so well. Just my thoughts. I may be wrong I usually am. Just ask my husband.

Note: Hey Peeley,
Should we, perhaps, have put this in the Workshop section? Just a random thought.

[Zondrae]

Ok How does this sound?

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

note: Not too happy with the metre of line 2 but I didn't want to hold up progress.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Love it - good on you Zondrae

[Maureen K Clifford]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

[Zondrae]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

He favoured cattle, in his youth, but sheep now suited best
the station and it's scrappy feed. He got no rest.
But feeding mobs of sheep by hand always was a battle.
Costs at least were paid by wool, not so with cattle.
ZK

[Dave Smith]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

He favoured cattle, in his youth, but sheep now suited best
the station and it's scrappy feed. He got no rest.
But feeding mobs of sheep by hand always was a battle.
Costs at least were paid by wool, not so with cattle.
ZK

Sheep can’t survive this back block run with out the touch of rain.
But there are some old boomers here now and again.
They seem to live on scrubby feed don't find the going hard.
And manage to find a drink in the old long-yard.
DS

[Zondrae]

Note: I'm finding this 14/12 a difficult combination. I have found 14/10 (with my own writing) or a consistent 14/14 easier to bled in with a steady metre. I'm not really comfortable with the 'feel' of the poem. I doesn't seem to flow smoothly. Now if Miss Palmer could come in and give us some pointers it may help me.

[Terry]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

He favoured cattle, in his youth, but sheep now suited best
the station and it's scrappy feed. He got no rest.
But feeding mobs of sheep by hand always was a battle.
Costs at least were paid by wool, not so with cattle.
ZK

Sheep can’t survive this back block run with out the touch of rain.
But there are some old boomers seen here now and again.
They don’t seem to mind the scrubby feed or find the going hard.
And may find a drink or two in the old long-yard.
DS

The Roo’s had darn near eaten all the feed that’s on the place,
but still he battled on with problems he must face.
He went and got a permit and will cull this rotten plague
and make a quid somehow, although his plans seem vague
TP

[Maureen K Clifford]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

He favoured cattle, in his youth, but sheep now suited best
the station and it's scrappy feed. He got no rest.
But feeding mobs of sheep by hand always was a battle.
Costs at least were paid by wool, not so with cattle.
ZK

Sheep can’t survive this back block run with out the touch of rain.
But there are some old boomers seen here now and again.
They don’t seem to mind the scrubby feed or find the going hard.
And may find a drink or two in the old long-yard.
DS

The Roo’s had darn near eaten all the feed that’s on the place,
but still he battled on with problems he must face.
He went and got a permit and will cull this rotten plague
and make a quid somehow, although his plans seem vague
TP

five hundred roos with permit tags with them what would he do?
it seems the city folk are not too fond of eating roo
they feed it to their dogs at times, it seems that this was all
til he started selling Kanga banga sangas from a stall
MB

He marketed them for a buck - they were a darn good feed.
'Back of beyond burgers' would fulfill all your needs.
They're made of outback tucker wholesome and nutritious too
all made with guaranteed organic Aussie roo.
MKC

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