ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Dear David - I couldn't agree more and I love your poetic treatment of the subject! Of course it's wonderful if we can memorise our work, but the best of us have lapses and brain fades, or miss our stride with a sudden distraction, all of which can ruin a recital. At our informal concerts my husband Rod and I do plan to recite from memory, but we keep our scripts on stands, set fairly low and often slightly to one side. It makes all the difference being able to glance down if we need to. A "security blanket" I guess, but it works for us. Of course, competitions are a different kettle of fish, pressure and nerves Best Regards, Shelley Hansen

Oh for Christ's sake! If you want to read then bloody read! If the competition says recite then recite! The opportunities for ambush Poets to perform is dwindling significantly so either read where they allow it or perform by memory where most Poetry venues employ you for. This is becoming a very old arguement. So basically give a lot of thought to whether you want a paid career or just go out to do for the sake of fun (or ego). If you wish to make a career out of it, then be professional and commit your poetry to memory. If you just want to piddle about with small venues and little festivals, then bloody read it! The choice of where you want to take your poetry is up to you! So stop trying to justify reading poetry at every festival and event. Do it for fun or as a career. It really doesn't impact on anyone else!

Despondently

Neil

So we have arrived at the three R's.

Rote, recite or read.

And thus, I think you will agree, I have summed everything up very neatly.

I thought I had already said that Keats just did not use all those words !


( I think ya's all think to much !

All that time wasted and you could have been writing Poetry )


Bob

Spot on, Bob. People can try to take the enjoyment out of anything. I write and perform because I like it. Simple. I know you do the same. There are no rules. Currently 'enjoying' myself at a festival in Wagga. How's goes the migration North?

Neill

(See, I can even spell my name wrong if I want and who cares? Lol)

Thems that can't, wont and thems that can - do....c'est la vi

It's just a discussion fellas. People always have, and always will want to have their say about any topic - you don't have to agree and you don't have to join in. It's a big grown up world now. It'd be a pretty boring old place if everyone agreed with one another - having different views is one of the things that makes the world more interesting and makes us think.

Heather

keats wrote:Spot on, Bob. People can try to take the enjoyment out of anything.

I don't think reading takes the enjoyment out of anything . . . although there was that time my wife started reading her New Idea while I was making love to her

You are very disagreeable Marty B.

Neill

(See, I can even spell my name wrong if I want and who cares? Lol)

Neill, that spelling is SO you!