Good one Manfred! haha! love it!
well...as I say, it was my OWN experience with the FAW.
If others find them different and the FAW have now found the Holy Grail of rhyme, then that has to be a good thing.
I originally went into the FAW believing that everyone shared the same view of Henry Lawson.. that he was a god-like figure... and boy did I come down with a thump!
I found myself reading poetry-stuff I simply did not understand and having people actually applauding it. Mind you, that is likely more a reflection of my poor literary comprehension than a verdict on such profound poetic writing.
Sheer insanity.
I mean I have enough insanity of my own to deal with without FAW people calling nonsense-writing poetry.
On another poetry site ages ago I responded to a re-post of my definition of Bush Poetry... just a bit of fun.... (I mean, I guess it really doesn't matter how you define it except that if someone asks you "what do you mean bush?".. then you need an answer or look silly. I did an interview on radio ABC and was waiting for that curly one, which thankfully did not arrive.)
In that site-post I referred to the Victorian Premier's Literary Award.
At a public information meeting on it, one of the judges referred to Henry Lawson as a drunkard. "Oh, Lawson, he was a drunkard wasn't he." I still remember those exact words. A judge no less!!
The FAW were right there.
I stood up, recited a couple of verses of a Lawson poem, uninvited of course, and walked out, in front of a big audience. No problem. As I said then, I think the shades of Lawson, Paterson and Dennis would have appreciated the joke, even if the "judges" didn't!
I guess this is the the broader literary scene that David refers to, rather than at some of the local branches. A pretty important level though.
So.. I find it impossible to come to any sort of accommodation with those who consider Lawson to be a drunkard. Or who treat Australia's great poets (and their disciples) in a patronising manner. If they make those statements in the name of the Premier of Victoria, through his Arts Minister, then it is to their and the Victorian Premier's eternal disgrace, and profound literary ignorance.
So I admire Glenny for levering some grudging recognition from the FAW. Well done Glenny. Fantastic.! You are GREAT!!!!!! BIG hugs and kisses.
In the end it is The People with their own voice who are the Customers and Arbiters. Not the FAW. We, as poets are mere tradesmen surely?