ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Glenny mentioned cannibals, and that poked a memory in my head to come forth and show itself. I wrote a silly nun/cannibal poem a gazillion years ago for the kids to perform in an eisteddfod ...

Hannibal The Cannibal

In the steaming hot jungles of Borneo Bay
Sister Mildred was caught by a cannibal.
As he leaned Mildred over the head chopping block,
she hollered - “Hang on a sec, Hannibal!”

“I’m all stringy and tough,
my meat’s shrivelled and rough,
you don’t want these tasteless old bones!
You want tender, young flesh,
tasty, juicy and fresh,
you need healthy plump meat - like your own!

And your feet - what a waste!
They’re just bursting with taste!
They look quite appetizing to me!
My old fingers are bony,
like dry macaroni -
yours looks scrumptious - I think you’d agree?”

“Gee, my tummy looks yummy,
my feet are a treat,
My head would be great in a stew!
My chubby, brown digits
look finger-lickin’ good.
On my thigh bone, I’d love a good chew!

I think I look simply delicious and yum!”
that silly old cannibal said.
So the native let Mildred go home in one piece,
then he chopped off his own ugly head.


Don't you love the rhyming scheme (or severe lack thereof)???

First stanza is abcb
Second stanza changes to aabaab
Third stanza - same as second stanza (ok, maybe I'll stick with this now?)
Fourth stanza - what the heck??? - abcdec (but with internal rhymes)
Fifth stanza - back the original abcb

Holy smackers - did you ever see such an out-of-whack system? Goes to show what a bit of advice, guidance, reading and practice over a few years can do, hey!

I'm probably going to wish I hadn't posted this one now ...

Kym see your silly (your word) little ones are just great.

Question once he cut off his own head how did he eat the rest of himself?

TTFN Mr

Love it

I don't think it's too bad. The only real problem is the fourth verse, as you say, but even then you have the rhymes at the ends of lines 3 and 6, which provide a spine. Personally, I don't think it matters that the first and last verse have a different rhyme structure to the rest of the poem. They match each other and top and tail the whole piece, so it doesn't destroy the symmetry. Good ending, too.

Have you ever read 'The Drums of Mer' by Ion Idriess (probably spelt that wrong)? It reminds me of that. Great read. I have a vague memory of a short story of Marcus Clarke's also, set in New Guinea, on a similar theme.

Still scareing the kids I see Kymmie.

Poor little buggers would be having might-mares.

Mares get it, Horses Mare ? Mad Mare ? oh shut up Bob.

See Ya.

You're a worry Kymmie!