ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

There's been quite a bit of input on the subject of blokedom of late, so it might be an opportune time to pose this question: which of our male traditional poets created the most evocative, effective portrait of women (or a woman)? There's no 'correct' answer, but there must be many opinions. For me, looking at individual characters, C. J. Dennis's Doreen stands out, but how about some other suggestions? Lawson, of course, wrote the brilliant short story The Drover's Wife, but let's stick to poetry here.

Cheers
David

I'm still a bit of a softy for Essex-Evans 'Women Of The West' and Barcroft Boakes 'Jims Whip' although one of the more contemporary ones I would rate highly as well, being Charlee Marshall's 'Vigil For A Highway Man'.

Neil

Ginger Mick's flame Rose is worth a look. She's a very different kettle of fish to Doreen, though.

May Carney in Lawson's 'Taking his Chance' is pretty memorable, too.

John Shaw Neilson's The Orange Tree.

Jenny Ross in 'The Fire at Ross's Farm' is also worth a mention. She's not a particularly memorable character, but she plays an important part in a very memorable poem.

The narrator in 'Andy's Gone With Cattle' and 'Andy's Return' would appear to be a woman.

Mother and daughters also feature in 'Scots of the Riverina', another classic Lawson poem.

Women feature prominently in a lot of Lawson's poems.

I also really like 'Polly Dibbs' from CJ Dennis' 'Book for Kids'.

One of my favorites "The Little Irish Mother" John O'Brien, I think is worthy of a mention.
And any one who knows me would know my favorite to perform "The First Surveyor" A B Paterson.

Cheers
Sue

I've always loved the words and the strength and endurance of the woman displayed in The Drovers Boy but technically I suppose that is a song and John Williamson not an old master - but still worthy of mention IMO

Ted Egan wrote 'The Drover's Boy', Maureen, but I guess he's not an old master, either.