If Magpies Had Hands

Stephen Whiteside · Post by **Stephen Whiteside** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:56 pm

Sorry.

Neville Briggs · Post by **Neville Briggs** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:54 pm

Don't be sorry Stephen, it's all good discussion.

Your poem was fresh and lively and stirred up a bit of interest in what I would see as lateral thinking on form. Great stuff.

We have a large tribe of magpies in our area. They seem to be smart birds, even without hands they can manage quite a bit of mischief.

Stephen Whiteside · Post by **Stephen Whiteside** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:11 pm

Thanks, Neville.

Post by **Zondrae** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:18 pm

G'day Stephen,

Interesting piece of writing. At first glance I would not recognise it as a poem. Then having read it, I feel it is directed towards children. In this case it is amusing, but stilI I would have to be told it is a poem, not just a written piece, or a humorous piece to engage the listener with it's imagery.

Does this mean my ignorance is showing. Would I need to have had higher education to be able to recognise poetry when I see it. Perhaps if I heard this poem recited I might recognise it as a poem? I can see it is very clever writing, but a poem?

I have written a few non R&M poems but these were/are very emotional pieces and were very spontaneous. Even though they don't rhyme they are very structured and, even at first glance, it is obvious they are poems. I always struggle with understanding how truly 'free' verse can be poems. I agree they can be very commanding or powerful or even beautiful, but.......

Stephen Whiteside · Post by **Stephen Whiteside** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 5:53 pm

You raise an interesting question, Zondrae. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to answer it for you. I agree the line between prose and free verse is very fine at times. Often free verse just looks like prose that has been cut up into small pieces and at odd places. I don't really mind if this is called a poem or not. I supposed I called it a poem because it is not very long, and contains a deal of repetition, but perhaps I am wrong - or perhaps there is no definitive answer.

Post by **warooa** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:19 am

If Magpies had hands . . . . they'd punch.

goodonya Stephen.

Cheers, Marty

Post by **manfredvijars** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:28 am

If Magpies had hands they might do better at football ....

Post by **Rimeriter** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 12:09 pm

"Hey" Manfred, are you lookin' for a punch ?
From a magpie supporter, that is.
Jim.

Stephen Whiteside · Post by **Stephen Whiteside** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:13 pm

Well swans and hawks don't have hands either...

Post by **manfredvijars** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:15 am

Well Jim, as a Magpie supporter, you must be 'arm'less too ...

ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

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