When The Bush Rises

[Gary Harding]

Heather, well it is an OK poem I guess with rhyme and metre that pass the test, and it could be good for reciting. As there are many excellent ABPA performers I chose it for that reason. I am sure they are constantly assessing new material. It is....an ok poem. It rhymes. There are many better poems around though I think...

It is funny you mention "rebel". YES, all poets should be rebels! They have a poetic 007 licence after all!

Following is a brief extract from a poem I wrote about turning forty-three, and it mentions what you say about being a rebel .....

I note the greying in my hair; vague thinning at the crown,
No longer can I see my toes when pausing to look down.
Some wrinkling, and some extra lines around my eyes I see,
Oh, don't we use the mirror less when turning forty-three!

Experience, the teacher; and it's been a bitter school.
Obedience, my master, and I followed like fool!
My precious youth was spent, alas, in dull conformity,
A rebel now, atop a hill that measures forty-three.

You are spot on ! "A rebel now.." who wants to conform??

Thank you again for your kind forbearance.

cheers, Gary

[warooa]

Heather knows all about that, Gary . . . she just turned 41

I liked your poem, mate. Look forward to reading more.

Where are ye from?

Cheers, (Far Northern) Marty

[Robyn]

Great work Gary. Love the ideas, and good rhyme and metre as well!
Look forward to reading some more...

[Gary Harding]

Thanks Marty.. and Robyn. I grew up in Melbourne and live in Hervey Bay Qld now, but spent some years in Cairns which is not far from where you are Marty. It's a beautiful world in FNQ isn't it.

Apologies for my typing. It was 2.00am and that is my excuse. This may sound odd, and others may have had the same experience but I find one can read a piece 50 - 100 times and still not pick up a typo, or misspelling. Frustrating. I use Wordpad which has no spell-checker etc, so must graduate from that. No excuses. I am critical of spelling mistakes and typos and yet I am the world's worst! Rebel was easy to spell.

But I always get Paterson right.... never Patterson.

.... following extract without typo, plus extra verse for fun

I note the greying in my hair; vague thinning at the crown,
No longer can I see my toes when pausing to look down.
Some wrinkling and some extra lines around my eyes I see,
Oh, don't we use the mirror less when turning forty-three!

Experience, the teacher; and it's been a bitter school.
Obedience, my master, and I followed like a fool!
My precious youth was spent, alas, in dull conformity,
A rebel now, atop a hill that measures forty-three.

I always thought that I would bond with nature more with age,
But autumn fair has gone and left no mark upon the page.
My life too full of grinding toil; such false priority!
That's one thing that will have to change now I am forty-three.

not "bush" perhaps but good fun...

cheers, Gary

[Terry]

Great poem Gary and well written too, I really enjoyed it.

Terry

[Glenny Palmer]

Bless you Gary. Another crusader for the correct spelling of ''Paterson.'' Yay! My world is complete!!

(I'm only just back home from a sortie to the big smoke...ugh!...so I'll absorb your poem soon. It looks pretty good from a cursory read mate. Oh, & welcome aboard!)

Cheeers
Glenny Palmer