COLLABORATIVE POEM 2 - CYPRESS RIDGE

[Maureen K Clifford]

IS HE DEAD YET???

[warooa]

No, I think he just emptied his bladder and his bowel in his sleep though (Merv?) . . getting back to the Gambler . . ya gotta know when to hold'em . . .

[thestoryteller]

I'm not getting kanga banga sauce, ale or whatever on my hands, someone else can kill him off. I'm too young to hang. But I do sense his pulse is getting weaker.

The Storyteller.

[warooa]

sorry to harp on about The Gambler and 14/12 but . . .

And when he'd finished speakin' he turned back t'wards the window
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep

that's a bit of a tame ending Marty . . . what about

his dreams turned into nightmares and the kanga bangers turned
and chased him through the scrub, he felt somewhat concerned
and blindly running through the darkness scared so bloody stiff
the kanga bangers chased him off the bloody cliff

[thestoryteller]

CYPRESS RIDGE

The story goes, in days gone by, this station was his claim
but fire, drought, flood and mice, all can share the blame.
He worked until they took him off, packed like a brand new fridge.
On the gate, the sign still reads, 'Welcome - Cypress Ridge'.
ZK

It had been empty many years. What memories were there
and ghosts, who walked alone. He was not there to share.
now sometimes when the wind was right - some said they'd heard him call
his dogs, long gone like him. My skin began to crawl.
MKC

He favoured cattle, in his youth, but sheep now suited best
the station and it's scrappy feed. He got no rest.
But feeding mobs of sheep by hand always was a battle.
Costs at least were paid by wool, not so with cattle.
ZK

Sheep can’t survive this back block run with out the touch of rain.
But there are some old boomers seen here now and again.
They don’t seem to mind the scrubby feed or find the going hard.
And may find a drink or two in the old long-yard.
DS

The Roo’s had darn near eaten all the feed that’s on the place,
but still he battled on, with problems he must face
he went and got a permit, and will cull this rotten plague
and make a quid somehow although his plans seem vague
TP

five hundred roos with permit tags with them what would he do?
it seems the city folk are not too fond of eating roo
they feed it to their dogs at times, it seems that this was all
til he started selling Kanga banga sangas from a stall
MB

He marketed them for a buck - they were a darn good feed.
'Back of beyond burgers' would fulfill all your needs.
They're made of outback tucker wholesome and nutritious too
all made with guaranteed organic Aussie roo.
MKC

The business was soon booming but was running out of Roo.
Then came a cunning plan; he knew just what to do.
He killed off most his horses and then minced them all up too,
then gathered up the bones and sold them off for glue.
TP

But then a cafe opened with a pommie guru's name
Ramsey opened 'Hell's Kitchen' just to spread his fame.
Serving only Crocodile and stakes from the Kangaroo.
Side dishes, Goanna bake or a Possum stew.
ZK

But too much 'roo and too much stew can make a tummy churn
and any manner of goanna will cause your heart to burn!
Now crocodile will all the while expand upon your girth,
to thus grow round so you'll be found the subject of much mirth.
Wen

On cypress Hill a bloke is seen to run on mother earth
ten laps of the roundyard to reduce expanding girth
Consumption of too many of our native wildlife
has him jogging laps each morning on the orders of his wife
MB

But jogging round was not enough to overturn his gain.
A secret shared Back of Beyond, even in rain,
is to eat more protein and Less carbs and do push ups too
in counted sets of fifty, twice a day will do.
ZK

But then an opportunity fair hit him in the face.
He'd start up a 'Curves' gym it would solve his disgrace.
He'd use his dogs as trainers, to round up any slackers
and be real sure to not go jogging past Macca's.
MKC

But soon he wearied of this lark and headed bush once more
and promised he’d come back, a fitter man for sure.
His wife began to worry after he’d been gone awhile,
then back he came again, a big grin on his dial.
TP

Seems he had found or thought he had, a place where diamonds grew.
His wife said 'you're a fool and your plans silly to.'
Diamond dust was in his eyes - it really made them sparkle
no time for negatives - no time for debacle.
MKC

He jumped from past to present – he had left, then he was back
which made a contribution very hard to crack.
He went from roos to horses that were minced up pretty fine
and now a new direction, that’s right, a diamond mine!
JP

These bushmen wander everywhere, not always on the track.
You think they've shot through - but the bludgers will be back.
He grasped his chance, gave her a look, said "won't you come with me?
This mine could offer us an opportunity."
MKC

You've skipped about the bush a bit, tried tucker of all sorts
led us on a merry chase with your silly rorts
You've tried your best with 'roo and 'orse on many outback tracks
but can't deny that burgers are - best at Hungry Jacks.
FD

Well Hungry jacks are pretty good, but not out at the mine,
for tucker’s not so grand, out where the bushmen dine.
Here Kanga rissoles are the go for those out in the sticks,
and really tasty too, for them that know the tricks.
TP

So heed the words I now relate, and them I'll not repeat,
there's certain things you have to do to soften up the meat.
You'll need a shovel and some wire and a tub of salt
and then you'll need a bottle of a liquid made from malt.
Wen

marinated kanga banga sanga for me sure hits the spot
To sear in all the juices better make the skillet hot
when pouring on the marinade , its best you stop and think
make sure you leave enough of it , you're gunna need a drink
MB

So now he sits beside his fire, his sangas sizzling still;
a mug of malted ale replaced his sleeping pill.
His wife is waiting patiently for rich rewards to reap,
but too much ale and sangas - now he's fast asleep.
IC

the embers slowly tail away, the night time air gets cool.
His solid slumber shown, by trailing line of drool
as R.E.M kicks in he dreams eternal night time swags
and monster mugs of ale and massive kanga snags
MP

Then suddenly great beads of sweat were forming on his brow,
his body was convulsing, with the DT's now.
Those monster mugs had sprung a leak and ale was flowing free
and massive kanga bangas hopped 'round merrily.
TS

His dreams turned into nightmares and the kanga bangers turned
and chased him through the scrub, he felt somewhat concerned
and blindly running through the darkness scared so bloody stiff
the kanga bangers chased him off the bloody cliff
W

And so this ends the saga folks of this poor old bushman's plight
and how he simply perished on that awful night.
Some doubt it's authenticity but mate it's ridy didge.
You ask the ghost that lingers at old Cypress Ridge.
TS

[Maureen K Clifford]

Good on you Merv - now don't you just love a good ghost story. I reckon all things considering we did good.

Pats on the backs all round

Cheers

Maureen

[Glenny Palmer]

...
STREWTH!! All while I was sleeping...
The typical ballad form is 7 stressed/ 5 stressed (syllables). eg TMFSR.

There was move ment at the stat ion for the word had passed a round (7)

that the colt from old re gret had got a way (5)

So Zondrae, I think the difficulty you expressed is understandable because a 14/12 is more difficult & (IMO) less 'flowing' than a 14/10 would be. (ie. doubling the normal ballad form). Add the caesural pauses & it does become a tad ....mmmm. I'll see what Mannie & I can do about getting that tute back on site.

Martyboy....good boy. Here's a jellybean. Now....

''sort of stuff up made by a blanky city slicker (12?)''...try 13. Back to the corner. But you don't have to write (horizontally...ooh) on the blackboard because you explained the medical terms so well.

xx Glenny

[Terry]

I reckon the best thing about it all was seeing people have a go and also learning at the same time.
I wonder if we should try internal rhymes next time?

Cheers all, I enjoyed it - Terry

[Glenny Palmer]

...
Make allowance for my porridge brain of late....there'a a LOT going on around here. (I had the grand misconception that at my age I'd just be pottering in the garden....oh well.) There's an 'a' in your original line...I think...I copied the line direct...but let's not quibble. After all, you did get a jelly bean.

xx Glenny

[Glenny Palmer]