ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

This ones has been up on the old site but I'm not sure if it's this version.
I'm putting it up here in case someone may not be familiar with this metre, which I think is one of best, it's almost musical.
The metre is x/xx/xx/xx/ and x/xx/xx/xx/x If anyone cares to have a go at it. It seems to be rarely used these days which I think is a pity, it's more or less the one Henry Kendall used in his wonderful poem 'BELLBIRDS'


THE BUTCHERBIRDS SONG

Away in the distance I hear the birds singing,
their sweet serenade through the bush-land is ringing.
Melodious, sweetly, the butcherbirds song,
then drifts through the bush and stands out from the throng.

In camp by the creek bed I sit back and listen,
enthralled by the voice of this outback musician.
The day now seems brighter there’s spring in my step,
my spirits uplifted and I’m full of pep.

And when the day ends and night’s shadow’s grow long,
I listen in hope, for the butcherbirds song.
While colours are plain in the dawns hazy light,
he’s white as the snow and as black as the night,

Dressed up in pied colours, he flies ‘long the track,
and heralds the dusk as it shrouds the outback.
The songs are so joyous and sung without sorrow,
his wonderful tunes promise hope for tomorrow.

So haunting and lovely, the melody lingers,
caressing my soul with its magical fingers.
I rest there in peace as my thoughts drift along,
enthused and relaxed by the butcherbirds song.

******


T.E. Piggott © 29/12/2008

Thanks Terry, I was hoping you would post it again. I did see it before on the old site but didn't have a chance to look closely because the site went pfft.. Didn't you win something for it? It has has a lovely melodic rhythm to it.

Heather

Lovely Terry - shame they are such macabre little killers isn't it?

Cheers

Maureen

Thanks Heather,
I entered it once in a comp and it got a 3rd.
I just love that rhythm, for some reason it sort of gets you humming - well at least it does me.

Cheers Terry

Where's your picture Terry?

Thanks Maureen,
yes nature is so cruel isn't it, The Pied Butcherbird has the voice of an angel but like so many birds is a ruthless killer, I Have come across their larder usually in a dead tree with giant Centipedes etc hanging in the small forks. But what a voice the Pied Butcherbird has, they're a little bigger than the grey one and much better singers. over here in the west you see them mostly in the arid areas of W.A. The grey one we see mostly towards the coast and although they are good singers in their own right, they are not in the same class as their bigger cousins.

Cheers Terry

Don't know how to do it Heather.

Nice-one Terry. Takes you right there!

Trisha

Thanks Trisha,
When the Butcherbird decides to sing he sure puts on some performance.

Terry

I enjoyed that one Terry.

Neville