Hmmmm
an interesting WABP comp thread guys.. and thank you for the remarks Glenny.
My comments related to a judge stating that wording in a poem was "a profanity" (only one though so that's ok!) and then went on to Award it a first prize. I had a problem with that. Sorry.
Apparently the Judge's statement was incorrect and misleading. Now it is no longer profane. It is vulgar.
I remarked on it precisely as the Judge reported it. As a profanity. I do not need to read the context in which it was written to reject it. No context validates it.
Yep, just so you know this Newbie well, my Opinion is that profanity and vulgarity too does not belong and there is simply never a case of it being "appropriate". No subjective assessment required. No grey areas in the name of artistic expression.
Thus I take great issue with the Judge of this WABP competition. I am offended by vulgarity... of any sort!
I certainly admire David for standing on his digs when he was asked to change wording in a Bush Poem.
But then.. in their defense I also admire the organisers of the competition for standing on their digs too and enforcing the language standards that they perceive as being Generally Acceptable... context or not. It is THEIR competition after all.
Surely it is not particularly clever to use bad or vulgar language in Bush Poetry. It's dumb. Some folk with "old-fashioned" and unfashionable standards find it offensive, and if only in deference to those folk and/or Ladies it must be excluded... and the act kept clean.
Poetry of and for the People is for ALL the people, not just for the supporters of profanity... or vulgarity.
Surely it is skill with words and poetic talent that counts, not shock value??
As I say, if want to hear swearing I will go down to the pub... if I want to read beautifully crafted poems by talented poets... I will come to the ABPA forum of course...
The Bryan Kelleher Literary Award encourages Young people to write! I would love to recommend they visit this forum to learn, but ..... if vulgarity and profanity are endorsed, then how can I... ?
Regardless of what others may do, I can guarantee with great pride that my own work will be free of ANY form of offensive language. Full stop. Especially profanity.. or vulgarity! Rightly or wrongly, I will endeavour to use the vast and rich store of words offered by the English language to express myself poetically, without resorting to shock or expletives to get my message across. Nobody will ever be offended by my poetical work, or written language here. Bush does NOT mean rough, swearing, profanity or vulagrity. It means skill with words. Nice words.
What did The Man From Snowy River do when the wild bush horses were escaping? did he say " Oh **** "
Not at all!! he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer!! Good for him!
It is very disappointing to me that the use of profanity.. and yes vulgarity finds such overwhelming support here in the ABPA. That it can indeed be considered justifiable. Not a courageous word against it. Ah well.. it would be a dull world if we all agreed!
In the end well hopefully, like Lawson and Paterson, we can disagree in all good poetic mateship.... still hump our swags together on the track....
"Let us go together droving, and returning, if we live,
Try to understand each other while we reckon up the div" ABP