ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The silly season's here again
and so I grasped me poet's pen
to write some cheery Christmas verse.
Curse ! the shackles made by rhyme.
This happens to me every time !
How can I write of Santa's coming ;
nothing rhymes with chimney.

G'day NB.

Whimsical, mate.

How about: Sidney stirring chutney in his chimney while listening to the rugby and getting angry when Chelsea beat Ausralia in Hawaii. He said, phooey, my bet on the Aussies was costly. I must have bats in the belfry; my finaces are in a debris-- that led to my bankruptcy.

Santa didn't get a look in, mate.

John

Thanks John, Good to hear from you again.

I like your reply, some good imaginative thoughts there.

I think we need to clear the cobwebs now and again with a bit of I am trying to get up courage to tackle a couple of large and heavy themes, don't think I will ever make the 700 words for the Bronze Swagman my wife would be amazed that I could ever get out 700 words in one go.


Neville

G'day Nev...
Love those haymaker jolting last lines...this one's a beaut.

By the way, the Bronze Swagman has a maximum 700 words, doesn't it? I've been notified that one of mine is in this year's anthology, and I just checked...it's 450 words.

Cheers, Will.

Thanks for the comment Will.

I haven't got 2010 Bronze Swagman book, which of yours is in it ?
You had one in 2009, " The Battler " . Just a good length, 21 lines and an excellent poem, I think.


Neville

G'day, Neville.

14 word lines

14 x50 = 700

700 / 4 = 175 4 line verses.

700 / 6 = 117 6 line verses.

700 / 8 = 87.5 8 line verses.

Big task, mate.

Neville Briggs Coleridge. The Ancient Sheep Herder.

The ewes were painted sheep on a rambling pea green ocean.

The fly strike blue, the white fleece flew, the lambkins followed free.
They were the first that ever burst into a Boab tree.

Big task ahead Neville.

Wish you luck.


John

Morning all,

I don't think the 'BS Anthology' is out yet. I haven't received mine anyway. (Mind you, I am often overlooked when receiving results etc.) I have one poem in it. A long one but can't recall the word count. I'll check ... well what do you know it is 713 words but I needed every one to do it justice. When printed in 12 pt font it ran onto the third page.
This is four years in a row in the anthology for me. I guess this year, as I didn't come as high as the past two, (I had HC two years) my poem will be somewhere in the middle. What is the old saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

G'day John, Thanks for the encouragement.

Rhyme and metre everywhere to make my poor brain shrink
Rhyme and metre everywhere, I just can't flamin' think.



You're not alone Zondrae, I haven't received anything from Toolangi to commemorate my small award.


Neville

Give Stephen a nudge Neville. He might be able to assist.